Social below ground: Life-history and gut microbiome of Damaraland mole-rats DOI Open Access
Hanna M. Bensch

Published: Nov. 7, 2023

Studying the consequences of variation in individual life-histories is vital for our understanding evolution animal societies. In this thesis, I study ecology and group living on growth, survival, reproduction, gut microbiome Damaraland mole-rat (Fukomys damarensis), a subterranean cooperatively breeding mammal. For this, used data faecal samples collected from long-term population Kalahari Desert, South Africa. explored effects size composition individuals’ growth survival. While large had no clear advantages either or individuals within groups biased to their own sex grew more slowly. The number recruits increased modestly with size, but experimentally created pairs showed same reproductive success as established groups. Further, single exhibited high survival rates good body condition. Combined, these results suggest that mole-rats delay dispersal maximise fitness, has costs benefits all members. also investigated affiliation microbiome. This work shows bring birth when they disperse, members have similar microbiomes. When dispersed start reproduce new groups, subsequently transfer offspring, resulting higher similarity between offspring common descent breeders. pattern could arise shared early life environment breeders through genetic relatedness To separate factors, cross-foster experiment captive animals, which microbiomes, regardless host relatedness. My thesis gives deepened insights into mole-rat. It how social species affects life-histories, beyond extended phenotypic traits such composition.

Language: Английский

Nepotism mediates enforced cooperation in asymmetric negotiations DOI Creative Commons
Irene García-Ruiz, Michael Taborsky

iScience, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 27(7), P. 110334 - 110334

Published: June 20, 2024

In cooperative societies, group members typically exchange different commodities among each other, which involves an incessant negotiation process. How is the conflict of fitness interests resolved in this continual bargaining process between unequal partners, so that maintaining interaction best option for all parties involved? Theory predicts relatedness may alleviate interests, thereby promoting evolution cooperation. To evaluate relative importance and direct effects process, we experimentally manipulated both mutual behavioral responses dominant breeders subordinate helpers cooperatively breeding cichlid fish

Language: Английский

Citations

6
Habitat disturbance alters movement behaviour in a social Afrotropical forest bird DOI Creative Commons
Gladys Nyakeru Kung'u, Christina Fischer, Janne Heiskanen

et al.

Biological Conservation, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 302, P. 110996 - 110996

Published: Feb. 1, 2025

Language: Английский

Citations

0
What is cooperative breeding in mammals and birds? Removing definitional barriers for comparative research DOI Creative Commons
Yitzchak Ben Mocha,

Sophie Scemama de Gialluly,

Michael Griesser

et al.

Biological reviews/Biological reviews of the Cambridge Philosophical Society, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 98(6), P. 1845 - 1861

Published: June 18, 2023

ABSTRACT Cooperative breeding (i.e. when alloparents care for the offspring of other group members) has been studied nearly a century. Yet, inconsistent definitions this system still hamper comparative research. Here, we identify two major inconsistencies, discuss their consequences and propose way forward. First, some researchers restrict term ‘cooperative breeding’ to species with non‐breeding alloparents. We show that such restrictive lack distinct quantitative criteria define This ambiguity, argue, reflects reproductive‐sharing continuum among cooperatively species. therefore suggest cooperative should not be restricted few extreme reproductive skew defined independent status Second, rarely specify type, extent prevalence alloparental required classify as breeders. thus analysed published data qualitative care. conclude by proposing following operational definition: is where >5% broods/litters in at least one population receive species‐typical parental conspecifics provide proactive fulfils type offspring's needs. definition designed increase comparability across disciplines while allowing study intriguing phenomenon behaviour multiple dimensions.

Language: Английский

Citations

8
Kin do not always help: testing multiple hypotheses on nest feeding in a cooperatively breeding bird DOI
Laurence Cousseau, Dries Van de Loock, Beate Apfelbeck

et al.

Behavioral Ecology, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 33(6), P. 1080 - 1092

Published: Aug. 18, 2022

Abstract In cooperatively breeding species, group members may derive multiple benefits from helping to raise other individuals’ offspring, yet not all individuals do so. this study, we tested predictions the “kin selection”, “pay-to-stay”, “group augmentation” and “skills” hypotheses, explain why feed nestlings of placid greenbuls (Phyllastrephus placidus). our study population, about 70% pairs were accompanied by subordinates, in 60% these cases at least one subordinate helped provisioning nestlings. total, 80% subordinates related or both breeders. accordance with selection” hypothesis, contrary “pay-to-stay” helpers first-order kin female (although relatedness male did variation helping) presence was associated increased survival pair. However, propensity help varied among members, as 46% Younger fed offspring more often than older ones, supporting hypotheses. support for hypothesis mixed since sex size additional effort. We argue that addition indirect direct benefits, also costs well types aside must be considered better understand behavior.

Language: Английский

Citations

7
Cooperative breeding alters physiological and behavioral responses to habitat fragmentation DOI Creative Commons
Beate Apfelbeck, Laurence Cousseau,

Gladys Nyakeru Kung’u

et al.

iScience, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 27(1), P. 108717 - 108717

Published: Jan. 1, 2024

Animals respond to habitat alteration with changes in their behavior and physiology. These determine individual performance thus precede population size. They are therefore hypothesized provide important insights into how animals cope environmental change. Here, we investigated physiological behavioral responses of a cooperatively breeding bird, the placid greenbul (

Language: Английский

Citations

1
Contrasting effects of cooperative group size and number of helpers on maternal investment in eggs and nestlings DOI
Dries Van de Loock, Laurence Cousseau, Beate Apfelbeck

et al.

Animal Behaviour, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 198, P. 107 - 116

Published: Feb. 27, 2023

Language: Английский

Citations

3
Social below ground: Life-history and gut microbiome of Damaraland mole-rats DOI Open Access
Hanna M. Bensch

Published: Nov. 7, 2023

Studying the consequences of variation in individual life-histories is vital for our understanding evolution animal societies. In this thesis, I study ecology and group living on growth, survival, reproduction, gut microbiome Damaraland mole-rat (Fukomys damarensis), a subterranean cooperatively breeding mammal. For this, used data faecal samples collected from long-term population Kalahari Desert, South Africa. explored effects size composition individuals’ growth survival. While large had no clear advantages either or individuals within groups biased to their own sex grew more slowly. The number recruits increased modestly with size, but experimentally created pairs showed same reproductive success as established groups. Further, single exhibited high survival rates good body condition. Combined, these results suggest that mole-rats delay dispersal maximise fitness, has costs benefits all members. also investigated affiliation microbiome. This work shows bring birth when they disperse, members have similar microbiomes. When dispersed start reproduce new groups, subsequently transfer offspring, resulting higher similarity between offspring common descent breeders. pattern could arise shared early life environment breeders through genetic relatedness To separate factors, cross-foster experiment captive animals, which microbiomes, regardless host relatedness. My thesis gives deepened insights into mole-rat. It how social species affects life-histories, beyond extended phenotypic traits such composition.

Language: Английский

Citations

0