The self-organisation of lemur social systems

Published: April 23, 2024

In my PhD research, I wanted to understand why females are dominant over males in many species of lemur and female dominance is stronger some than others. approached this topic through the lens self-organisation, which posits that complex behaviours can emerge from simple interactions. By studying three differing their degree dominance, discovered factors such as spatial proximity competition for resources pivotal shaping hierarchies. Using computational models, showed how food distribution influences cohesion, interaction frequency, extent dominance. Additionally, studied existing measures intersexual were most accurate robust encouraging use future studies other animals. My research combines both empirical theoretical approaches behavior highlights importance considering self-organisation when social dynamics.

Language: Английский

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Ecological drivers of sexual size dimorphism in northern chamois

Ecology and Evolution, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 14(10)

Published: Oct. 1, 2024

Male-biased sexual size dimorphism (SSD) is common in ungulates. The dominant scenario for the evolution of ungulate SSD suggests that habitat openness leads to greater by increasing group and thus selection through male-male competition mates. At a more proximate level, adaptive changes may result from plastic response individuals environmental variation. In this study, we used 161,948 body mass data seasonally size-dimorphic species, northern chamois

Language: Английский

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Around the clock: unveiling giraffe rest-activity rhythms and social dynamics

Frontiers in Conservation Science, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 5

Published: Oct. 29, 2024

Understanding the daily activity patterns and social dynamics of giraffes ( Giraffa camelopardalis ) is crucial for their management conservation. In this study, a comprehensive 24-hour observational analysis three female reticulated kept weeks at Opel-Zoo in Kronberg, Germany, was conducted. Using infrared-sensitive cameras, study captured behavioral data across baseline two intervention phases involving changes group composition. Social network performed using Mantel test to assess interactions between day night different periods, while MRQAP applied evaluate influence individual subtypes on structure. During day, exhibited high level activity, primarily engaging walking, standing, feeding behaviors. Diurnal resting minimal, with sporadic lying phases. Night-time behavior markedly different, spending most down, interspersed periods feeding. The presence male giraffe during one phase significantly altered diurnal patterns, increasing standing behaviors decreasing time. interactions, including nearest neighbor preferences, varied changed alterations highlights complexity adaptation contexts. These findings provide valuable insights into natural rhythms giraffes, which are essential effective zoo conservation strategies.

Language: Английский

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Social Brain Energetics: Ergonomic Efficiency, Neurometabolic Scaling, and Metabolic Polyphenism in Ants

Integrative and Comparative Biology, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 62(5), P. 1471 - 1478

Published: May 25, 2022

Abstract Metabolism, a metric of the energy cost behavior, plays significant role in social evolution. Body size and metabolic scaling are coupled, socioecological pattern increased body is associated with dietary change formation larger more complex groups. These consequences adaptive radiation animal societies beg questions concerning expenses, substantial portion which may involve rates brains that process information. Brain scales size, but little understood about brain scaling. Social insects such as ants show wide variation worker morphology correlates structure, task performance, dependent on sensory inputs information-processing ability to generate behavior. Elevated production maintenance costs workers impose energetic constraints reflected patterns Models evolution do not clearly predict scaling, nor they specify its relationship performance ergonomic efficiency, two key elements ants. rate rarely recorded and, therefore, conditions under metabolism influences unclear. We propose studies morphological evolution, colony organization, efficiency should be integrated analyses species-specific advance our understanding

Language: Английский

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Who Goes There: Friend or Foe?

Oxford University Press eBooks, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: unknown, P. 164 - 190

Published: Nov. 1, 2022

Abstract Are Wytham’s badgers territorial, and has this altered over time? How are groups delineated, these borders respected? Scent is key, using faeces at latrine sites, but how reinforced matched to the strengths of depositors or size opposing group? Is a current function badgers’ perimeter latrines in Wytham territorial defence, there other explanations for geometry? These questions lead us explore chemistry anal gland secretion, learn that respond differently scents their own group, immediate neighbours, more distant strangers. Latrines located along margins group interactions—why so? ‘Keep out’? Or ‘Hello neighbour’? We deduce they notice boards, badger social media advertisement. What information signalled; what does fine print say? signalled by it different urine, laden as with hormone metabolites?

Language: Английский

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