Birds of a song flock together?

In a study conducted at the University of California at Irvine, researchers found that female budgerigars-an Australian parrot-prefer to pair with males who sound like them. Moreover, when similar-sounding pairs were made, males gave more help to the females when nesting. Earlier research had shown that male budgerigars imitate the calls of females they want to mate with, and that females preferred males who had been trained to produce calls similar to their own. The new study found that females are not fooled by the males’ imitation, but find their similar-sounding mates before the vocal mimicry begins. Unlike most animals, the monogamous budgerigars can learn new vocalizations throughout their lives, and seem to use various aspects of vocalization when selecting mates. The study seems to provide an avian example of a bit of human advice: choose a partner with whom you have something in common.

Source: Ethology

-Abigail Slinger

No “ecstatic” neurons

The drug MDMA, better known as ecstasy, has long been investigated to determine what harmful effects it poses to users. While long-term ecstasy use has been proven to damage serotonin-producing neurons in the brain, a recent study suggests that first-time users can be harmed by even a small amount of ecstasy. Researchers examined 188 non-users to measure the integrity of cells and blood flow in areas of the brain. After 18 months, 59 first-time ecstasy users and 56 non-users were re-examined. Low doses of ecstasy had not damaged serotonin-producing neurons, but it was found that these doses lead to subtle changes in cell structure and decreased blood flow in some regions. The users also showed decreased verbal memory performance compared to non-users. Researchers concluded that no amount of ecstasy could be deemed safe for the brain.

Source: Radiological Society of North America Annual Meeting

-Mayce Al-Sukhni

Choosy chimps pick old farts

Researchers have found that male chimpanzees prefer to mate with older females than younger ones. A recent study by Boston and Harvard University scientists reports that older females were more likely to be approached for copulation, copulated more frequently with high-ranking males, and provided incentive for higher rates of male-on-male aggression. The chimpanzee preference for older females contrasts sharply with traditional human tendencies in mate selection. Researchers argue that the formation of long-lasting bonds among humans, and the limits of a human female’s reproductive lifespan might account for these differences in mate-selection strategy. Chimpanzees neither practice long-term pair bonding, nor is the female chimp’s term of fertility limited by menopause. These findings also suggest that youth preferences in mate selection may be an evolutionary trait that arose after the human lineage diverged from that of chimpanzees.

Source: Current Biology

-A.S.