scholarly journals Queen succession conflict in the paper wasp Polistes dominula is mitigated by age-based convention

2020 ◽  
Vol 31 (4) ◽  
pp. 992-1002 ◽  
Author(s):  
Benjamin A Taylor ◽  
Alessandro Cini ◽  
Rita Cervo ◽  
Max Reuter ◽  
Seirian Sumner
Keyword(s):  
Strong Predictor ◽  
Paper Wasp ◽  
Polistes Dominula ◽  
Cooperatively Breeding ◽  
Removal Experiments ◽  
Queen Succession ◽  
The Face ◽  
Group Members ◽  
Fitness Benefits ◽  
Animal Societies

Abstract Reproduction in cooperative animal groups is often dominated by one or a few individuals, with the remaining group members relegated to nonreproductive helping roles. This reproductive skew can evolve if helpers receive fitness benefits such as potential future inheritance of the breeding position, but the mechanisms by which inheritance is determined are not well resolved. Polistes paper wasps form highly reproductively skewed groups and inheritance of the breeding position is likely to play a key role in the maintenance of this social structure, making them excellent models for the processes by which simple societies are maintained. Reproductive succession is thought to be determined via an age-based convention in some Polistes species, but there is also evidence for contest-based succession systems in which the replacement queen uses physical aggression to overpower and thereby subordinate her nestmates. Here, we provide evidence that queen succession in colonies of the European paper wasp Polistes dominula is determined via convention rather than contest, with little disruption to the colony’s social functioning. We use queen removal experiments and fine-scale behavioral analyses to confirm that age is a strong predictor of succession, and that behavioral responses to queen removal are restricted to the oldest individuals rather than being experienced equally across the group. We provide the most comprehensive and detailed experimental analysis on the dynamics of breeder succession in a cooperatively breeding invertebrate to date, thereby shedding light on the mechanisms by which animal societies are able to maintain cohesion in the face of within-group conflict.

scholarly journals Subordinate male meerkats prospect for extra-group paternity: alternative reproductive tactics in a cooperative mammal

2007 ◽  
Vol 274 (1618) ◽  
pp. 1603-1609 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew J Young ◽  
Goran Spong ◽  
Tim Clutton-Brock
Keyword(s):  
Reproductive Success ◽  
Alternative Reproductive Tactics ◽  
Substantial Proportion ◽  
Reproductive Tactics ◽  
Age At First Reproduction ◽  
Suricata Suricatta ◽  
Cooperatively Breeding ◽  
First Reproduction ◽  
Fitness Benefits ◽  
Animal Societies

In cooperatively breeding species, subordinates typically suffer strong constraints on within-group reproduction. While numerous studies have highlighted the additional fitness benefits that subordinates might accrue through helping, few have considered the possibility that subordinates may also seek extra-group matings to improve their chances of actually breeding. Here, we show that subordinate males in cooperative meerkat, Suricata suricatta , societies conduct frequent extraterritorial forays, during periods of peak female fertility, which give rise to matings with females in other groups. Genetic analyses reveal that extra-group paternity (EGP) accrued while prospecting contributes substantially to the reproductive success of subordinates: yielding the majority of their offspring (approx. 70%); significantly reducing their age at first reproduction and allowing them to breed without dispersing. We estimate that prospecting subordinates sire 20–25% of all young in the population. While recent studies on cooperative birds indicate that dominant males accrue the majority of EGP, our findings reveal that EGP can also arise from alternative reproductive tactics employed exclusively by subordinates. It is important, therefore, that future attempts to estimate the fitness of subordinate males in animal societies quantify the distribution of extra-group as well as within-group paternity, because a substantial proportion of the reproductive success of subordinates may otherwise go undetected.

Sex (Similarities and) Differences in Friendship Jealousy

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jaimie Krems ◽  
Keelah Williams ◽  
Laureon Allison Watson ◽  
Douglas Kenrick ◽  
Athena Aktipis
Keyword(s):  
Sex Differences ◽  
Cognitive Architecture ◽  
Third Party ◽  
Published Data ◽  
Best Friends ◽  
Adaptive Challenges ◽  
The Face ◽  
Initial Support ◽  
Fitness Benefits ◽  
Material Benefits

Friendships provide material benefits, bolster health, and may help solve adaptive challenges. However, a recurrent obstacle to sustaining those friendships—and thus enjoying many friendship-mediated fitness benefits—is interference from other people. Friendship jealousy may be well-designed for helping both men and women meet the recurrent, adaptive challenge of retaining friends in the face of such third-party interference. Although we thus expect several sex similarities in the general cognitive architecture of friendship jealousy (e.g., it is attuned to friend value), there are also sex differences in friendship structures and historical functions, which might influence the inputs of friendship jealousy (e.g., the value of any one friendship). If so, we should also expect some sex differences in friendship jealousy. Findings from a reanalysis of previously-published data and a new experiment, including both U.S. student and adult community participants (N = 993), provide initial support for three predicted sex differences: women (versus men) report greater friendship jealousy at the prospective loss of best friends to others, men (versus women) report greater friendship jealousy at the prospective loss of acquaintances to others, and men’s (but not women’s) friendship jealousy is enhanced in the context of intergroup contests.

Imperatives and commands in Japanese

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nerida Jarkey
Keyword(s):  
Social Hierarchy ◽  
The Social ◽  
The Face ◽  
Group Members ◽  
Face Threat ◽  
Contemporary Standard

This chapter examines the forms and usage of imperatives and command strategies in contemporary standard Japanese. Although commands are highly face-threatening acts in any language, speakers of Japanese encounter particular challenges in using them in socially acceptable ways. Commands are generally only given to those considered ‘below’ the speaker in the social hierarchy, and are normally considered appropriate only when used toward ‘in-group’ members. Further restrictions relate to the identity the speaker wishes to convey. Numerous command strategies have emerged to avoid using the most direct imperative forms, and some of these strategies have gradually come to be reinterpreted as imperative forms themselves, suggesting a loss of their original euphemistic qualities. Furthermore, when issuing commands, speakers often go to considerable lengths to soften the face threat, for example by giving reasons for the command, adding markers of hesitancy, or softening illocutionary particles, and using appropriate honorific language forms.

scholarly journals Proactive prosociality in a cooperatively breeding corvid, the azure-winged magpie ( Cyanopica cyana )

2016 ◽  
Vol 12 (10) ◽  
pp. 20160649 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lisa Horn ◽  
Clara Scheer ◽  
Thomas Bugnyar ◽  
Jorg J. M. Massen
Keyword(s):  
Cooperative Breeding ◽  
Cooperatively Breeding ◽  
Group Members ◽  
Over Time

One of the contemporary hypotheses concerning the evolution of human altruism is the cooperative breeding hypothesis (CBH) which has recently been tested in non-human primates. Using a similar paradigm, we investigated prosociality in a cooperatively breeding corvid, the azure-winged magpie. We found that the magpies delivered food to their group members at high rates, and unlike other corvids, they did so without any cues provided by others. In two control conditions, the magpies stopped participating over time, indicating that they learned to discriminate prosocial tests from controls. Azure-winged magpies are thus the first birds that experimentally show proactive prosociality. Our findings are in line with the CBH; however, additional corvid species need to be tested in this promising paradigm.

Nest thermoregulation of the paper wasp Polistes dominula

2016 ◽  
Vol 60 ◽  
pp. 171-179 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicole Höcherl ◽  
Shawn Kennedy ◽  
Jürgen Tautz
Keyword(s):  
Paper Wasp ◽  
Polistes Dominula

Experimental predator intrusions in a cooperative breeder reveal threat-dependent task partitioning

2020 ◽  
Vol 31 (6) ◽  
pp. 1369-1378 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dario Josi ◽  
Annika Freudiger ◽  
Michael Taborsky ◽  
Joachim G Frommen
Keyword(s):  
Behavioral Responses ◽  
Alloparental Care ◽  
Potential Threat ◽  
Antipredator Defense ◽  
Outside Options ◽  
Cooperatively Breeding ◽  
Indirect Fitness ◽  
Antipredator Behaviors ◽  
Group Members ◽  
Eusocial Animals

Abstract In cooperatively breeding species, nonbreeding individuals provide alloparental care and help in territory maintenance and defense. Antipredator behaviors of subordinates can enhance offspring survival, which may provide direct and indirect fitness benefits to all group members. Helping abilities and involved costs and benefits, risks, and outside options (e.g., breeding independently) usually diverge between group members, which calls for status-specific differentiated behavioral responses. Such role differentiation within groups may generate task-specific division of labor, as exemplified by eusocial animals. In vertebrates, little is known about such task differentiation among group members. We show how breeders and helpers of the cooperatively breeding cichlid Neolamprologus savoryi partition predator defense depending on intruder type and the presence of dependent young. In the field, we experimentally simulated intrusions by different fish species posing a risk either specifically to eggs, young, or adults. We used intrusions by harmless algae eaters as a control. Breeders defended most when dependent young were present, while helper investment hinged mainly on their body size and on the potential threat posed by the respective intruders. Breeders and helpers partitioned defense tasks primarily when dependent young were exposed to immediate risk, with breeders investing most in antipredator defense, while helpers increased guarding and care in the breeding chamber. Breeders’ defense likely benefits helpers as well, as it was especially enhanced in the treatment where helpers were also at risk. These findings illustrate that in a highly social fish different group members exhibit fine-tuned behavioral responses in dependence of ecological and reproductive parameter variation.

scholarly journals Drought decreases cooperative sentinel behavior and affects vocal coordination in meerkats

2019 ◽  
Vol 30 (6) ◽  
pp. 1558-1566 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ramona Rauber ◽  
Tim H Clutton-Brock ◽  
Marta B Manser
Keyword(s):  
Small Groups ◽  
Cooperative Behavior ◽  
Drought Condition ◽  
Drought Period ◽  
Suricata Suricatta ◽  
Naturally Occurring ◽  
Dry Conditions ◽  
Group Members ◽  
Fitness Benefits ◽  
Cooperative Behaviors

Abstract Cooperative breeding often evolved in harsh and arid habitats characterized by high levels of environmental uncertainty. Most forms of cooperative behavior have energetic costs and previous studies have shown that the contributions of individuals to alloparental provisioning are conditional on their food intake. However, the effect of naturally occurring, extreme environmental conditions on the persistence of costly forms of cooperative behaviors and their coordination by communication remain unknown. Here, we show that in meerkats (Suricata suricatta) the probability to act as sentinel, a cooperative vigilance behavior, was the same for typically occurring dry and wet conditions, but significantly reduced during a drought condition with almost no rain, especially in young individuals, members of small groups and groups with pups. The duration an individual stayed on sentinel guard, however, was most reduced during dry conditions. Besides reductions in sentinel behavior, the vocal coordination of foraging meerkats differed when comparing drought and wet conditions. Individuals responded more strongly to playbacks of sentinel “all-clear” calls and close calls, resulting in less vigilance and more foraging behavior during the drought condition. We conclude that while meerkats are adapted to commonly occurring dry periods with low rainfall, the extreme drought period with almost no rain, led to a decrease of the frequency of costly forms of cooperative behaviors in favor of behaviors that maximize direct fitness benefits and also affected the vocal coordination among group members.

MASTERY BELIEFS AND PRODUCTIVE LEISURE ACTIVITIES IN THE THIRD AGE

2003 ◽  
Vol 31 (7) ◽  
pp. 643-656 ◽  
Author(s):  
Erika Timmer ◽  
Marja Aartsen
Keyword(s):  
Strong Predictor ◽  
Later Life ◽  
Self Esteem ◽  
Control Beliefs ◽  
Third Age ◽  
The Third ◽  
Productive Activities ◽  
Broad Concept ◽  
The Face ◽  
The Impact

In the present study we examined the associations between beliefs of mastery and 2 important kinds of productive activities in the third age: participation in education, and volunteering. Within the broad concept of mastery beliefs, differential aspects of self-regulatory cognitions were studied, that is, self-esteem, control beliefs, effort to complete behavior, persistence in the face of adversity, and willingness to initiate behavior. Effects of these aspects on carrying out activities were investigated and controlled for the impact of some situational and demographic factors. Findings suggest that a general sense of mastery, as reflected in self-esteem and control beliefs, is not a precondition for study and volunteering work in the third age. However, special components of self-efficacy turned out to play a part. Willingness to initiate behavior emerged as a strong predictor for taking on educational activities, as was persistence in the face of adversity for being active as a volunteer. In the discussion possibilities were looked at fpr how better to match productive activities in later life to personal dispositions.

scholarly journals Rapid juvenile hormone downregulation in subordinate wasp queens facilitates stable cooperation

2018 ◽  
Vol 285 (1872) ◽  
pp. 20172645 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elizabeth A. Tibbetts ◽  
Michelle L. Fearon ◽  
Ellery Wong ◽  
Zachary Y. Huang ◽  
Robin M. Tinghitella
Keyword(s):  
Juvenile Hormone ◽  
Social Interactions ◽  
Group Formation ◽  
Reproductive Hormones ◽  
Reproductive Capacity ◽  
High Fertility ◽  
Cooperative Groups ◽  
Dominant Group ◽  
Polistes Dominula ◽  
Group Members

In many cooperatively breeding animals, subordinate group members have lower reproductive capacity than dominant group members. Theory suggests subordinates may downregulate their reproductive capacity because dominants punish subordinates who maintain high fertility. However, there is little direct experimental evidence that dominants cause physiological suppression in subordinates. Here, we experimentally test how social interactions influence subordinate reproductive hormones in Polistes dominula paper wasps. Polistes dominula queens commonly found nests in cooperative groups where the dominant queen is more fertile than the subordinate queen. In this study, we randomly assigned wasps to cooperative groups, assessed dominance behaviour during group formation, then measured levels of juvenile hormone (JH), a hormone that mediates Polistes fertility. Within three hours, lowest ranking subordinates had less JH than dominants or solitary controls, indicating that group formation caused rapid JH reduction in low-ranking subordinates. In a second experiment, we measured the behavioural consequences of experimentally increasing subordinate JH. Subordinates with high JH-titres received significantly more aggression than control subordinates or subordinates from groups where the dominant's JH was increased. These results suggest that dominants aggressively punished subordinates who attempted to maintain high fertility. Low-ranked subordinates may rapidly downregulate reproductive capacity to reduce costly social interactions with dominants. Rapid modulation of subordinate reproductive physiology may be an important adaptation to facilitate the formation of stable, cooperative groups.

scholarly journals Live long and prosper: durable benefits of early-life care in banded mongooses

2019 ◽  
Vol 374 (1770) ◽  
pp. 20180114 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emma I. K. Vitikainen ◽  
Faye J. Thompson ◽  
Harry H. Marshall ◽  
Michael A. Cant
Keyword(s):  
Reproductive Success ◽  
Early Life ◽  
Female Offspring ◽  
Evolutionary Medicine ◽  
Laboratory Animals ◽  
Lifetime Reproductive Success ◽  
Life Care ◽  
Developmental Effects ◽  
Cooperatively Breeding ◽  
Fitness Benefits

Kin selection theory defines the conditions for which altruism or ‘helping’ can be favoured by natural selection. Tests of this theory in cooperatively breeding animals have focused on the short-term benefits to the recipients of help, such as improved growth or survival to adulthood. However, research on early-life effects suggests that there may be more durable, lifelong fitness impacts to the recipients of help, which in theory should strengthen selection for helping. Here, we show in cooperatively breeding banded mongooses ( Mungos mungo ) that care received in the first 3 months of life has lifelong fitness benefits for both male and female recipients. In this species, adult helpers called ‘escorts’ form exclusive one-to-one caring relationships with specific pups (not their own offspring), allowing us to isolate the effects of being escorted on later reproduction and survival. Pups that were more closely escorted were heavier at sexual maturity, which was associated with higher lifetime reproductive success for both sexes. Moreover, for female offspring, lifetime reproductive success increased with the level of escorting received per se , over and above any effect on body mass. Our results suggest that early-life social care has durable benefits to offspring of both sexes in this species. Given the well-established developmental effects of early-life care in laboratory animals and humans, we suggest that similar effects are likely to be widespread in social animals more generally. We discuss some of the implications of durable fitness benefits for the evolution of intergenerational helping in cooperative animal societies, including humans. This article is part of the theme issue ‘Developing differences: early-life effects and evolutionary medicine’.

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