Agonistic behaviour in the long‐snout seahorse: A gentlemanly challenge

Ethology ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Natalie Villar Freret‐Meurer ◽  
José Vanderli Andreata ◽  
Maria Alice S. Alves
Keyword(s):  
Agonistic Behaviour

Out of sight or in too deep: Effect of visual barriers and water depth on agonistic behaviour and growth in hatchling saltwater crocodiles (Crocodylus porosus)

2014 ◽  
Vol 158 ◽  
pp. 102-110
Author(s):  
Matthew L. Brien ◽  
Christopher M. Gienger ◽  
Grahame J. Webb ◽  
Keith McGuinness ◽  
Keith A. Christian
Keyword(s):  
Water Depth ◽  
Agonistic Behaviour ◽  
Crocodylus Porosus

Female, but not male, agonistic behaviour is associated with male reproductive success in stable bluebanded goby (Lythrypnus dalli) hierarchies

Behaviour ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 151 (10) ◽  
pp. 1367-1387 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tessa K. Solomon-Lane ◽  
Madelyne C. Willis ◽  
Devaleena S. Pradhan ◽  
Matthew S. Grober
Keyword(s):  
Reproductive Success ◽  
Egg Laying ◽  
Dominant Male ◽  
Male Reproductive Success ◽  
Agonistic Behaviour ◽  
Social Species ◽  
Evolution Of Sociality ◽  
Lythrypnus Dalli ◽  
Linear Hierarchies ◽  
Substantial Control

In many social species, there are important connections between social behaviour and reproduction that provide critical insights into the evolution of sociality. In this study, we describe associations between agonistic behaviour and male reproductive success in stable social groups of bluebanded gobies (Lythrypnus dalli). This highly social, sex-changing species forms linear hierarchies of a dominant male and multiple subordinate females. Males reproduce with each female in the harem and care for the eggs. Since aggression tends to be associated with reduced reproduction in social hierarchies, we hypothesized that males in groups with high rates of aggression would fertilise fewer eggs. We also hypothesized that a male’s agonistic behaviour would be associated with his reproductive success. Dominants often exert substantial control over their harem, including control over subordinate reproduction. To address these hypotheses, we quantified egg laying/fertilisation over 13 days and observed agonistic behaviour. We show that there was a significant, negative association between male reproductive success and the total rate agonistic interactions by a group. While no male behaviours were associated with the quantity of eggs fertilised, female agonistic behaviour may be central to male reproductive success. We identified a set of models approximating male reproductive success that included three female behaviours: aggression by the highest-ranking female and approaches by the lowest-ranking female were negatively associated with the quantity of eggs fertilised by males in their groups, but the efficiency with which the middle-ranking female displaced others was positively associated with this measure. These data provide a first step in elucidating the behavioural mechanisms that are associated with L. dalli reproductive success.

Social allies modulate corticosterone excretion and increase success in agonistic interactions in juvenile hand-raised graylag geese (Anser anser)

2003 ◽  
Vol 81 (10) ◽  
pp. 1746-1754 ◽  
Author(s):  
Didone Frigerio ◽  
Brigitte Weiss ◽  
John Dittami ◽  
Kurt Kotrschal
Keyword(s):  
Life History ◽  
Foster Parent ◽  
Social Partner ◽  
Agonistic Behaviour ◽  
Agonistic Interactions ◽  
Anser Anser ◽  
Access To Resources ◽  
Standard Distance ◽  
Social Alliances ◽  
Corticosterone Metabolites

In mammals, support by a social partner may reduce stress levels and ease access to resources. We investigated the effects of the passive presence of a nearby social ally on excreted corticosterone immunoreactive metabolites and behaviour in juvenile graylag geese (Anser anser). Two groups of hand-raised juveniles (N1 = 9, N2 = 3) were tested over 1 year by positioning humans of different familiarity (i.e., the human foster parent, a familiar human, a nonfamiliar human, no human) at a standard distance to the focal geese. Their success in agonistic interactions significantly decreased with age and with decreasing familiarity of the accompanying human. The humans present modulated the excretion of corticosterone immunoreactive metabolites, with the strongest effects recorded after fledging when corticosterone metabolites were also positively correlated with agonistic behaviour. This suggests that a human foster parent may provide similar supportive benefits as goose parents do in natural families. We discuss the benefits of social alliances with regard to the integration into the flock, access to resources, and life history.

Cattle behaviour in a saleyard and its potential to cause bruising

1987 ◽  
Vol 27 (6) ◽  
pp. 753 ◽  
Author(s):  
JK Blackshaw ◽  
AW Blackshaw ◽  
T Kusano
Keyword(s):  
Agonistic Behaviour ◽  
Initiation Rate ◽  
Solid Objects ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Australian Industry

Bruising of beef costs the Australian industry at least $A36 million each year. At the Brisbane Abattoirs, drafting and weighing, followed by unloading, had the greatest potential to inflict injury to cattle. Agonistic behaviour (butting) showed a significant difference in initiation rate between horned (0.36 per animal) or hornless (0.91 per animal) cattle. Most butting occurred in the holding yards and involved the neck (47.2%) and flank (37.8%) regions more often than the hindquarters (25.0%). During unloading, drafting and weighing, cattle frequently came into heavy contact with solid objects, particularly on the back (33.1% of contacts) and upper hindquarters (25.4%). Shading behaviour differed between British and Brahman-type cattle, with 41% of British-breeds seeking shade, whereas only 6.5% of Brahman-type cattle sought shade. Problem areas in saleyards are the unloading, drafting and weighing yards, where stockhandlers and casual labourers move cattle. These workers may, by rough and abusive handling, exacerbate behaviour which leads to damage to cattle.

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