Personality homophily drives female friendships in a feral ungulate

bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory), Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: June 25, 2024

Friendships, exhibited by both humans and non-human animals, have considerable adaptive benefits. In humans, similarity or homophily in personality is considered a proximate mechanism driving friendships, yet little known about the behavioural ′decision rules′ underlying animal friendships. Some empirical research suggests that friendships can be driven homophily. However, these studies are restricted to primates, limiting our understanding of mechanisms We investigated feral population water buffalo ( Bubalus bubalis ) determine whether drives this ′non-model′ social species free-ranging environmental conditions. conducted observations on females (n=30) assessed their personalities. Close spatial proximity served as indicator friendship, validated affiliative body contact. An objective ′bottom-up′ method revealed three traits – tension , vigilance general dominance . found with comparatively lower differences significantly higher close associations. did not find an effect kinship Our findings show form based homophily, decision rule attributed predominantly primates. discuss light socioecology but emphasise implications broader evolutionary context personalities

Language: Английский

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Personality homophily drives female friendships in a feral ungulate

iScience, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 27(12), P. 111419 - 111419

Published: Dec. 1, 2024

Language: Английский

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The Badgers of Wytham Woods

Oxford University Press eBooks, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: Nov. 1, 2022

Abstract The Wytham badger study was begun in earnest by Hans Kruuk 1972, with David Macdonald his graduate student, and turn Chris Newman, David’s student. Fifty years later they have documented the genealogy, births, deaths, ‘marriages’ of over 1900 individuals. book is a journey from particular to general, developing themes model species that grows authors’ approach Badgers Woods: A Model for Behaviour, Ecology, Evolution. This accessible monograph engages 50 primary research woven around badgers Woods (Oxford, UK), covering topics as diverse life history strategy, climate change biology, genetics, communication, senescence, immunology, endocrinology, epidemiology. begins aspects individual behaviour, starting birth, early development, then recruitment youngsters into their social groups. In quest understand society its adaptive significance, following chapters describe networks, dynamics within those ultimately evaluate pros and, importantly, cons group living. account turns paradoxical relationships between adjoining groups, offers an ecological framework which interpret this sociology, explaining how living can evolve facultatively benefit equally adapted much less gregariously under other circumstances. Next story population levels analysis, exploring demography, impacts density, trade-offs (including pace theory), extrinsic factors such weather. population-level sequence leads diseases, specifically, role reservoir bovine tuberculosis, before moving yet different level—molecular. continues genetic selection thence adding bookend opening birth. concluding chapter sets variation at two levels, intra-specific inter-specific, culminates exploration theme throughout book: emergent outcome ecology environmental conditions experience, framed phylogeny Mustelidae more broadly, mammalian evolution.

Language: Английский

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Evolution of reproductive strategies: sex roles, sex ratios and phylogenies

Biologia Futura, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 74(4), P. 351 - 357

Published: Sept. 19, 2023

Abstract Behavioural variations associated with breeding—termed reproductive strategies—are some of the striking behaviours that have occupied naturalists for 1000s years. How an animal seeks, competes and/or chooses a mate? Do they breed single partner, or do change partners between breeding events? and when look after their young? biologists, ecologists evolutionary biologists investigated these questions using quantitative methods since 1970s. In Debrecen, support mentoring Prof Zoltán Varga, we are investigating causes implications strategies 1988. This article reviews core ideas in research explains influence Varga on development ideas. My main thesis here is both integrative thinking adopting multi-pronged approach explicit phylogenetic framework—both been spearheaded by throughout his lifetime—can reveal novel aspects strategies. Importantly, academic insights direct preserving species habitats wild, thus benefit biodiversity conservation.

Language: Английский

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The effects of wild ungulates on small mammals: a systematic review and meta‐analysis

Mammal Review, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 54(2), P. 121 - 132

Published: Nov. 23, 2023

Abstract Wild ungulates are increasing in several regions of the world, recolonizing empty niche left by previous livestock systems. Due to their important role as ecosystem engineers, wild can modify and change vegetation structure, well modulate soil ecological processes, affecting remaining components communities posing new management challenges. Several studies have evaluated effects on other guilds, but results taxonomically biased. Thus, our goal is synthesise overall smaller mammals a broad scale. complexity assessing these impacts throughout network, we focused since they occupy different trophic levels key taxa food webs. We conducted review documented guild's abundance with less than 10 kg, which revealed gap literature regarding how higher respond ungulate disturbances. Using hierarchical meta‐analytic approach, assessed, subset articles, whether presence affects guild small were associated biome, ungulates' body mass foraging strategy, mammals' mass. A quantitative meta‐analysis was possible only for (Rodentia/Soricomorpha/Macroscelidea <1 kg) that tended decrease ungulates. The magnitude this impact, however, modulated mass, being greater larger ones. might result changes through direct indirect pathways. Our motivate more holistic evaluation rewilding projects correct assessment concerning reintroductions.

Language: Английский

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Interrelationship among spatial cohesion, aggression rate, counter-aggression and female dominance in three lemur species

Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 76(10)

Published: Sept. 9, 2022

Abstract How social and ecological factors are associated with variation in dominance style across species of animals has been studied frequently, but the underlying processes often not addressed. Theoretical research indicates that stronger spatial cohesion among individuals a group causes higher frequency fighting and, thus, through self-reinforcing effects winning losing fights, differentiation hierarchy females over more males. Our aim present paper is to study whether same interrelationship may underlie differences three lemur differ their degree despotism: Lemur catta , Propithecus verreauxi Eulemur rufifrons . We investigated agonistic interactions based on 2752 h observational data 20 wild groups these species. determined using proportion counter-aggression, lower indicating despotic style. found rate aggression, despotism The results our emphasise general importance determining Significance statement studies have shown configuration influences In an agent-based model, DomWorld, guided by simple rules grouping emergent patterns behaviour switch between resembling those or egalitarian primates depending groups. Yet this link seldom empirically. We, therefore, examine relevance lemur. confirm predictions from model show frequent female light this, we urge future animal include measures cohesion.

Language: Английский

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Contrasting selection pressure on body and weapon size in a polygynous megaherbivore

Biology Letters, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 17(10)

Published: Oct. 1, 2021

Sexual size dimorphism (SSD) is a common morphological trait in ungulates, with polygyny considered the leading driver of larger male body mass and weapon size. However, not all polygynous species exhibit SSD, while molecular evidence has revealed more complex relationship between paternity mating system than originally predicted. SSD is, therefore, likely to be shaped by range social, ecological physiological factors. We present first definitive analysis hippopotamus ( Hippopotamus amphibius ) using unique dataset collected from 2994 aged individuals. The results confirm that hippos but mean differed only 5% sexes, which rather limited compared many other ungulates. jaw canine are significantly greater males females (44% 81% heavier, respectively), highlighting considerable selection pressure for acquiring weapons. A predominantly aquatic lifestyle coupled limitations their foregut fermenting morphology restricts differences sexes. Indeed, appear rare example among ungulates whereby sexual favours increased over mass, underlining important role species-specific ecology physiology have shaping SSD.

Language: Английский

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The relative importance of social information use for population abundance in group-living and non-grouping prey

Journal of Theoretical Biology, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 575, P. 111626 - 111626

Published: Sept. 25, 2023

Predator-prey relationships are fundamental components of ecosystem functioning, within which the spatial consequences prey social organization can alter predation rates. Group-living (GL) species known to exploit inadvertent information (ISI) that facilitates population persistence under risk. Still, extent non-grouping (NG) benefit from similar processes is unknown. Here we built an individual-based model explore and compare population-level ISI use in GL NG prey. We differentiated between only by presence or absence attraction toward conspecifics drives individual movement patterns. found benefits socially acquired predator highly depends on prey's ability detect nearby predators, density occurrence false alarms. Conversely, even moderate probabilities detection lead maximal This theoretical work provides additional insights into conditions facilitate irrespective organisation.

Language: Английский

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Social relationships among captive female Himalayan tahr

Ethology, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 128(10-11), P. 668 - 675

Published: Aug. 25, 2022

Abstract We studied social relationships in a captive group of female Himalayan tahr ( Hemitragus jemlahicus ). Female showed frequent aggression and strictly linear age‐graded dominance hierarchy. Coalitions, contrast, were rare. formed differentiated relationships, as they interacted with different individuals at widely rates. A principal component analysis revealed that best described along three independent dimensions we labelled Affiliation, Agonism Ambivalence. Both Affiliation directed preferentially down the was also to kin, while reverse pattern. Ambivalence unrelated both kinship. Overall, these results show an ungulate species can form vary relation rank

Language: Английский

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Assessment of wild prey of mammalian carnivores in Barda Wildlife Sanctuary, Gujarat, India

Ethology Ecology & Evolution, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 36(4), P. 387 - 399

Published: Feb. 5, 2024

The Barda Wildlife Sanctuary (Barda WLS) is a semi-arid ecosystem that plays an important role in the conservation of mammalian carnivores. It essential to evaluate population wild prey species Barda, which has implications for predators and themselves. We assessed density, biomass, structure by surveying road (n = 10) trail 8) transects using distance sampling framework method. used male-to-female sex ratios percent contribution each age class assess structure. Mean group size (MGS), median (Mdgs), mean crowding (Mc) were calculated analyze size. Of studied, Indian peafowl had highest density (51.61 ± 7.08 individuals/km2), followed pig (10.77 4.59), blue bull (3.50 0.51), hare (3.03 0.73), spotted deer (0.62 0.04). male-to-adult female ratio was biased towards females, except peafowl. All small sizes pigs. results this study can aid its development as one protected areas Gujarat predators, along with framing strategies WLS.

Language: Английский

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