fossils. After I started working on the origin of birds, I realized that the traditional paleontological approach was not suffi cient for understanding bird origins. To get a reasonably complete picture of the evolution of avian features, we need not only data from fossils but also insights from other disciplines. So I started working with the developmental biologists Cheng-Ming Chuong of the University of Southern California and Susan Mackem of the National Cancer Institute, the comparative genomicist Guojie Zhang of the University of Copenhagen and the China National GeneBank, and the biomechanist Robert Dudley of the University of California at Berkeley, among others, in order to understand how feathers and wings evolved and how avian fl ight originated. This approach turned out to be fruitful, and I've coauthored several papers with these collaborators in different disciplines. I've also been communicating a lot with Huanming Yang of the Beijing Genomics Institute-one of China's leading genetics scientists-and we've even co-organized academic symposiums to promote crosstalk between paleontology and neontology. The history of evolutionary biology is all about integrating an ever-growing number of disciplines into evolutionary studies, and I believe that this trend will continue into the future. What do you think about postpublication peer review of papers? Post-publication peer review is a great idea and defi nitely benefi ts the scientifi c community. I believe that almost every scientist has at some point wanted to correct some mistakes or fl aws in a paper that he or she just published, but there's never been a good mechanism for that. Furthermore, the current model of peer review normally involves only two or three referees for each submission, and this limited number of minds and eyes can easily produce biased or careless comments. Postpublication peer review helps to provide a better, less-biased assessment of the research.

Research suggests that humans can form strong attachments to their pets, and at least some pets display attachment behaviors toward their human caretakers. In some cases, these bonds have been found to support or enhance the physical and emotional well-being of both species. Most human–animal interaction research to date has focused on adult owners, and therefore less is known about childhood pet attachment. However, there is growing evidence that pets may play an important role in the development and well-being of children, as well as adult family members. Research conducted to date suggests that child–pet relationships may be especially impactful for children who do not have stable or secure attachments to their human caretakers. However, given that human–animal interactions, including pet ownership, can also introduce some risks, there is considerable value in understanding the nature of child–pet attachments, including the potential benefits of these relationships, from a scientific perspective. The purpose of this review is to provide background and a brief overview of the research that has been conducted on childhood attachment to pets, as well as to identify areas where more research would be beneficial.

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In recent years there has been growing interest in uncovering evolutionary and lifetime factors that may contribute to the domestic dog’s (Canis lupus familiaris) success in anthropogenic environments. The readiness with which dogs form social attachments, their hyper-social focus, and social flexibility have all been areas of investigation. Prior research has demonstrated that many pet dogs form infant-caregiver type attachments towards human caretakers, even into adulthood. However, it is unknown if adult dogs form similar attachment bonds to other species, including cohabitant dogs, or if the dog-human relationship is unique in this respect. In the current study we used the Secure Base Test to evaluate behavioral indicators of stress reduction, proximity seeking and exploration, classifying dog-human and dog-dog dyads into attachment style categories. As in prior studies, we found that the majority of our dog-human dyads met the traditional criteria for infant-caregiver type attachment. However, the majority of dogs did not display this form of attachment towards cohabitant dog partners. Instead, behaviors observed in dog-dog relationships better matched attachment classifications described in human sibling attachment research. Overall, companion dogs were significantly less likely than human caretakers to elicit behaviors associated with attachment security in a focal dog. Dog-human attachment may play a distinct and important role in the success and resilience of adult dogs living in at least some anthropogenic environments. Bonds formed with other adult dogs, while important, likely serve a different function.

Practical relevance: Cats are one of the most common companion animals in the world. However, relatively little scientific research has been conducted on cat behavior. With problem behaviors a leading reason for relinquishment of cats to shelters, or abandonment outdoors, solutions to address feline behavioral problems can have important welfare benefits. Because naturally occurring pheromones produce measurable species-specific responses in cats, the use of synthetic pheromone products consisting of the same compounds may activate a specific behavioral response in the receiving individual, allowing humans to better communicate with cats and manage feline problem behavior. Aims: In this article the scientific background for naturally occurring feline pheromones and semiochemicals and their impact on cat behavior is reviewed. This is used as a foundation to explore the three feline synthetic pheromones currently available and the empirical evidence that exists for their effectiveness. From this information, several recommendations for veterinarians and behavior professionals on the application of feline pheromone therapy in the home and veterinary clinic setting are presented. Evidence base: The efficacy of synthetic pheromones as a tool for the management of problem behaviors is a relatively new area of research and only fairly recently has the need to implement more rigorous research methodology been recognized.