The role of habitat configuration in shaping social structure: a gap in studies of animal social complexity

Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology, Journal Year: 2019, Volume and Issue: 73(1)

Published: Jan. 1, 2019

Animal societies are shaped both by social processes and the physical environment in which interactions take place. While many studies observed patterns of inter-individual as products proxies pure processes, or links between resource availability structure, role configuration habitat features shaping system group-living animals remains largely overlooked. We hypothesise that decisions about when where to move, will impact individuals more frequently encounter one another doing so overall structure organization populations. first discuss how spatial arrangement components (i.e. configuration) can shape animal movements using empirical cases literature. Then, we draw from literature movement mediate highlight network-based approaches identifying, evaluating partitioning effects on organization. illustrate combination these mechanisms a simple simulation. Finally, implications ecology evolution offer framework for future studies. directions increasingly important widely human-modified landscapes, particular habitat-driven evolution. There is now clear evidence generate apparent complex structure. However, while such those collective behaviour networks have been focused involving individual decision-making, broader also be factors fundamental impacts animals. One set related amount biotic abiotic live. Examples include formed patches connected through corridors, presence hard boundaries types uneven distribution resources, mates competitors across space. In this contribution, potential these, becoming start being able track populations spanning larger landscapes.

Language: Английский

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The importance of individual‐to‐society feedbacks in animal ecology and evolution

Journal of Animal Ecology, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: 90(1), P. 27 - 44

Published: Sept. 27, 2020

The social decisions that individuals make-who to interact with and how frequently-give rise structure. resulting structure then determines their surroundings-resources risks, pathogens predators, competitors cooperators. However, despite intensive research on (a) make (b) shapes processes (e.g. cooperation, competition conflict), there are still few studies linking these two perspectives. These perspectives represent halves of a feedback loop: individual behaviour scales up define the environment, this in turn, feeds back by shaping selective agents drive behaviour. We first review well-established areas have captured both elements loop-host-pathogen dynamics cultural transmission. highlight where is well studied but remain largely disconnected. Finally, we synthesise existing 14 distinct topics identify new prospects interplay between likely be important unexplored. Our shows inherent links individuals' traits, decisions, evolution, warrant more consideration. By mapping missing connections among many areas, our highlights explicitly considering individual-to-society feedbacks can reveal dimensions old questions ecology evolution.

Language: Английский

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Temperature as a modulator of sexual selection

Biological reviews/Biological reviews of the Cambridge Philosophical Society, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: 95(6), P. 1607 - 1629

Published: July 20, 2020

A central question in ecology and evolution is to understand why sexual selection varies so much strength across taxa; it has long been known that ecological factors are crucial this. Temperature a particularly salient abiotic factor modulates wide range of physiological, morphological behavioural traits, impacting individuals populations at global taxonomic scale. Furthermore, temperature exhibits substantial temporal variation (e.g. daily, seasonally inter-seasonally), hence for most species the wild will regularly unfold dynamic thermal environment. Unfortunately, studies have far almost completely neglected role as modulator selection. Here, we outline main pathways through which can affect intensity form (i.e. mechanisms) selection, via: (i) direct effects on secondary traits preferences trait variance, opportunity trait-fitness covariance), (ii) indirect key mating parameters, sex-specific reproductive costs/benefits, trade-offs, demography correlated factors. Building upon this framework, show that, by focusing exclusively first-order environmental linked with individual fitness population viability, current warming may be ignoring eco-evolutionary feedbacks mediated Finally, tested general prediction conducting meta-analysis available experimentally manipulating reporting variance male/female success and/or under Our results clear association between measures both sexes. In short, suggest studying feedback processes vital developing better understanding nature, its consequences viability response change warming).

Language: Английский

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An alternative hypothesis for the evolution of same-sex sexual behaviour in animals

Nature Ecology & Evolution, Journal Year: 2019, Volume and Issue: 3(12), P. 1622 - 1631

Published: Nov. 18, 2019

Same-sex sexual behaviour (SSB) has been recorded in over 1,500 animal species with a widespread distribution across most major clades. Evolutionary biologists have long sought to uncover the adaptive origins of 'homosexual behaviour' an attempt resolve this apparent Darwinian paradox: how SSB repeatedly evolved and persisted despite its presumed fitness costs? This question implicitly assumes that 'heterosexual' or exclusive different-sex (DSB) is baseline condition for animals, from which evolved. We idea necessarily presents evolutionary conundrum, suggest literature includes unchecked assumptions regarding costs, benefits SSB. Instead, we offer alternative null hypothesis origin that, through subtle shift perspective, moves away expectation maintenance problem need solution. argue frequently implicit assumption DSB as ancestral not rigorously examined, instead hypothesize indiscriminate behaviours directed towards all sexes. By shifting lens study behaviour, can more fruitfully examine history diverse strategies. The authors sexes, rather than state same-sex anomalous.

Language: Английский

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Sex peptide receptor-regulated polyandry modulates the balance of pre- and post-copulatory sexual selection in Drosophila

Nature Communications, Journal Year: 2019, Volume and Issue: 10(1)

Published: Jan. 11, 2019

Abstract Polyandry prolongs sexual selection on males by forcing ejaculates to compete for fertilisation. Recent theory predicts that increasing polyandry may weaken pre-copulatory and increase the relative importance of post-copulatory selection, but experimental tests this prediction are lacking. Here, we manipulate levels in groups Drosophila melanogaster deletion female sex peptide receptor . We show which sex-peptide-receptor is absent females ( SPR- ) have higher polyandry, – as a result weaker male mating success, compared controls. Post-copulatory paternity share relatively more important groups, where gain additional repeatedly with same females. These results provide evidence elevated weakens males, shifts events, pathway can play key role modulating process

Language: Английский

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Female space use correlates with extra-pair mating in barn swallow replacement clutches

Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 79(2)

Published: Feb. 1, 2025

Language: Английский

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A male-biased sex ratio increases the opportunity for precopulatory sexual selection but does not change the Bateman gradient

Evolution Letters, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: Jan. 17, 2025

Abstract Theory predicts that the sex ratio within populations should influence strength of sexual selection, and is often used as a proxy for selection. However, recent studies challenge this relationship. We manipulated adult ratios in Drosophila melanogaster to comprehensively investigate relationship between Consistent with theory, we found stronger selection males than females an increased variance male reproductive success (the opportunity selection) male-biased ratios. In addition, faced more intense sperm competition ratios, although structure networks was largely invariant ratio. Despite this, show did not measured by Bateman gradient. leverage randomized null models reconcile these results higher may be explained random chance mating, rather competitive mechanisms. Our findings indicate caution warranted over long-standing assumption bias good

Language: Английский

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Social network position predicts male mating success in a small passerine

Behavioral Ecology, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 32(5), P. 856 - 864

Published: March 24, 2021

Abstract Individuals differ in the quantity and quality of their associations with conspecifics. The resulting variation positions that individuals occupy within social environment can affect several aspects life history, including reproduction. While research increasingly shows how factors predict dyadic mating patterns (who will breed whom), much less is known about an individual’s position affects its overall likelihood to acquire partner(s). We studied networks socially monogamous blue tits (Cyanistes caeruleus) investigate whether number strength connections opposite-sex conspecifics, ratio between same- connections, tendency move groups months prior breeding individuals’ success acquiring 1) a partner 2) extrapair partner. After controlling for differences spatial location, we show males moved more often were likely Moreover, adult associated females sire young. female associates also predicted proportion familiar neighbors, suggesting familiarity among neighbors may facilitate opportunities matings. In females, none network metrics significantly or Our study suggests positioning translate into future success, adding important new dimension studies (extrapair) behavior.

Language: Английский

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Sexual conflict and sexual networks in bed bugs: the fitness cost of traumatic insemination, female avoidance and male mate choice

Proceedings of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 291(2027)

Published: July 17, 2024

Sexual conflict is prevalent among animals and primarily caused by the fact that optimal mating rates are often higher in males than females. While there a growing appreciation females can also gain from multiple matings, we still know relatively little about which sex controls observed how close it to female rates. To address this issue, tracked bed bugs ( Cimex lectularius ) inseminated daily versus weekly found lived longer produced over 50% more offspring. In follow-up experiment employing social network framework, placed 24 into semi-naturalistic arena recorded all sexual interactions. recently did not avoid often, they were frequently rejected males. Finally, avoidance behaviour single cohort of as received six successive inseminations. Avoidance increased insemination durations decreased with increasing number prior Overall, our results indicate high costs polyandry. Although possess some plastic strategies, fall closer male rather optimum.

Language: Английский

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How to quantify (the response to) sexual selection on traits

Evolution, Journal Year: 2018, Volume and Issue: 72(9), P. 1904 - 1917

Published: July 13, 2018

Natural selection operates via fitness components like mating success, fecundity, and longevity, which can be understood as intermediaries in the causal process linking traits to fitness. In particular, sexual occurs when influence or fertilization which, turn, influences We show how quantify both these steps a single path analysis, leading better estimates of strength selection. Our model controls for confounding variables, such body size condition, estimating relationship between reproductive success. Correspondingly, we define Bateman gradient Jones index using partial rather than simple regressions, captures they are commonly interpreted. The applied purely phenotypic data quantitative genetic parameters estimated information on relatedness. approach breaks down differentials into sexually selected “remainder” component. decomposes evolutionary response analogously. apply our method analyze male dusky pipefish, Syngnathus floridae, two simulated datasets. highlight conceptual statistical limitations previous path‐based approaches, lead substantial misestimation

Language: Английский

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