You lick me, I like you: understanding the function of allogrooming in ungulates

Mammal Review, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 54(4), P. 373 - 386

Published: March 25, 2024

ABSTRACT Allogrooming is a common affiliative behaviour with hygienic, physiological and social consequences, has historically been examined in non‐human primates order to understand the evolution of sociality. In primates, allogrooming well‐known have evolved for an antiparasitic function, leading consequences further adoption functions. This includes exchanging benefits biological market, post‐conflict reconciliation long‐term bond formation. The relevant importance these functions largely undetermined many non‐primate taxa, including ungulates. We aimed evaluate current evidence function ungulates, asking whether serves if so, what magnitude. Ungulates show large differences their behaviour, but variation not truly understood. find that although ungulates co‐opted purposes such as formation, variety fully explored. Identifying species‐specific can help clarify context behaviour; this allows us improve our knowledge how individuals groups interact within population, implications when deducing animal state conclude there great potential additional research into we encourage exploration

Language: Английский

---

The evolution of sex roles: The importance of ecology and social environment

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 121(22)

Published: May 21, 2024

Males and females often have different roles in reproduction, although the origin of these differences has remained controversial. Explaining enigmatic reversed sex where males sacrifice their mating potential provide full parental care is a particularly long-standing challenge evolutionary biology. While most studies focused on ecological factors as drivers roles, recent research highlights significance social such adult ratio. To disentangle propositions, here, we investigate additive interactive effects several role variation using shorebirds (sandpipers, plovers, allies) model organisms that spectrum including some best-known examples sex-role reversal. Our results consistently show play prominent driving roles. Importantly, are associated with both male-skewed ratios high breeding densities. Furthermore, phylogenetic path analyses general support for variations rather than being consequence Together, important open future directions by showing opportunities major generating diversity system, care.

Language: Английский

---

Group Size and Social Composition

Published: Jan. 1, 2025

Language: Английский

---

Diet Selection of a Solitary Forest-Dwelling Ungulate, the Japanese Serow (Capricornis crispus), in Cool Temperate Forest

Mammal Study, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 49(2)

Published: Feb. 14, 2024

Language: Английский

---

Evolution from monogamy to polygyny: insights from the solitary Japanese serow

Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 77(3)

Published: Feb. 23, 2023

Language: Английский

---

Mountain ungulate mating systems: patterns and processes

Mammal Review, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 53(3), P. 206 - 222

Published: May 30, 2023

ABSTRACT Mountain ungulates of the subfamily Caprinae, including wild sheep, goats and goat‐antelopes, show remarkable interspecific diversity in habitat preferences, social organisation morphological features. We review how this relates to their mating behaviour. After introducing ecology systems evolution we investigate pairwise, sequential relationships between behaviour, level polygyny, features, discuss ecological processes underlying patterns mate monopolisation acquisition. From forest‐dwelling, solitary, monogamous monomorphic highly dimorphic, polygynous sheep inhabiting open landscapes, mountain reveal a close relationship openness sexual dimorphism, through sociality that monopolisation. Although over last few decades some information has been collected on biology our understanding determinants is still hampered by limited data estimate opportunities for selection, as well uncertainties occurrence maintenance alternative reproductive tactics, lack female choice. The study factors influencing them play key role from an evolutionary conservation standpoint. This relevant whose main expected be strongly affected ongoing climatic change, with potential effects phenology systems, economic value consumptive nonconsumptive uses. A better will require wealth additional field observations male genetic assessments success.

Language: Английский

---

The impact of small groups on pre‐ and postcopulatory sexual selection in polyandrous populations

Ecology and Evolution, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 13(5)

Published: May 1, 2023

Sexual selection is a key evolutionary force but varies widely between populations. Two factors that influence sexual are the extent to which females copulate with multiple males (polyandry) and variation in social environment. Increasing research demonstrates populations structured by complex socio-sexual networks, structure of these networks can shaping relationship male precopulatory mating success intensity postcopulatory competition. However, comparatively less attention has been dedicated group on how differences size groups may impact relative pre- polyandrous The presence (i.e., structure) nature forms an implicit part much experimental under laboratory conditions. Here I use simulations competition within vary they contain, show size, particular small groups, selection. Specifically, null expectations for operation governed because smaller sizes constrain leading reinforcing episodes Given broad tendency study replicate effects have implications our understanding

Language: Английский

---

Group size dynamics of the endangered mountain nyala (Tragelaphus buxtoni) in protected areas of the Arsi and Ahmar Mountains, Ethiopia

Global Ecology and Conservation, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 46, P. e02546 - e02546

Published: June 17, 2023

As an adaptive biological trait, group size may offer a useful metric for monitoring the welfare of wildlife species affected by their environmental surroundings. Here, we examine drivers that cause variation in endangered mountain nyala (Tragelaphus buxtoni), including range natural ecological factors as well density livestock. For this purpose, collected data along transect lines during both wet and dry seasons focusing on hitherto poorly studied populations Arsi Mountains National Park, Munessa-Kuke Controlled Hunting Area Muktar Mountain Forest Reserve, which are managed multiple use variety resources. We found sizes to be average 6.3, 4.4 4.1 individuals Mountains, study areas, respectively, combination livestock habitat visibility explained much 74% size. propose whereas increases with forage availability (as measured Normalized Difference Vegetation Index -NDVI) open habitats (probably due switch antipredator strategy), presence also has independent, negative impact because associated disturbance. The findings contribute understanding social antelopes, particularly highlighting need improve management help conservation at risk.

Language: Английский

---

Harem size should be measured by more than the sum of its parts: Phenology‐based measurements reveal joint effects of intrinsic and extrinsic factors on a polygamous herbivore under non‐stationary climatic conditions

Ecology and Evolution, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 14(2)

Published: Feb. 1, 2024

Abstract Social behaviour is thought to be a major component of survival, reproduction, and resilience populations. Thus, it key in management conservation wild In polygynous breeding species, group size influences the reproductive success males females, hence essential understand environmental demographic factors that shape phenology within Here, we investigate harem its determinants using 15‐year dataset annual phenology‐based metrics from reintroduced population Przewalski horses Hortobágy National Park, Hungary. From initial reintroduction 21 animals 1997, grew 174 2012. During same period, number harems increased three 23. Despite 8‐fold increase size, sizes remained stable, variability among years decreased. The phenological cycle was not consistent over associated varied differently years. best predictors our were adult sex ratio, mortality mean harems, with some evidence age stallions drought severity contributing factors. Our findings reveal complex interactions between demography, climate, can emerge social animals. Taken together, results demonstrate intrinsic processes regulate even presence non‐stationary climatic conditions during periods growth human‐introduced, semi‐free ranging animal

Language: Английский

---

It's about time: Feeding competition costs of sociality are affected more by temporal characteristics than spatial distribution

Ecology and Evolution, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 14(4)

Published: April 1, 2024

For most herbivorous animals, group-living appears to incur a high cost by intensifying feeding competition. These costs raise the question of how gregariousness (i.e., tendency aggregate) could have evolved such an extent in taxa as anthropoid primates and ungulates. When attempting test potential benefits costs, previous foraging models demonstrated that might be beneficial lowering variance intake, but it reduces overall success. However, these did not fully account for fact has multiple experiences can vary relation ecological variables Here, we present agent-based model testing impact gregariousness. In our simulations, primate-like agents forage on variable resource landscape while maintaining spatial cohesion with conspecifics varying degrees. The agents' energy intake rate, daily distance traveled, were recorded. Using Morris Elementary Effects sensitivity analysis, tested 10 parameters, which 2 controlled gregarious behavior 8 food resources, including aspects temporal heterogeneity. We found that, generally increased competition, much lower when resources less over time calorie extraction was slow renewal frequent). also proximity other resulted more time. Thus, are strongly influenced characteristics giving insight into pressures shaped evolution sociality group living, own lineage.

Language: Английский

---