Intersexual social behavior of urban white-tailed deer and its evolutionary implications

2007 ◽  
Vol 85 (7) ◽  
pp. 759-766 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katherine E. Richardson ◽  
Floyd W. Weckerly
Keyword(s):  
Social Behavior ◽  
Predation Risk ◽  
Group Size ◽  
Social Factor ◽  
Size Composition ◽  
Urban Environments ◽  
Focal Animal ◽  
The Social ◽  
San Marcos ◽  
Central Texas

White-tailed deer ( Odocoileus virginianus (Zimmermann, 1780)) are now common in many urban environments throughout their geographic range. Yet, how male and female deer in the urban environment associate, behave socially, and the evolutionary implications of that behavior remains unstudied. We examined predictions of the predation risk and the social factor hypotheses to explain intersexual grouping patterns and social behavior observed in white-tailed deer inhabiting the small city of San Marcos (population size ~45 000) in central Texas. Two routes were surveyed weekly from a vehicle at dawn and dusk for 1 year. Group size, composition, distance to vehicle, and alarm state of deer to the vehicle were recorded. Focal animal sampling was used to measure the time males and females spent and number of aggressions within one body length of each other when in groups. Female-only groups were most prevalent year round followed by mixed-sex groups, which increased in prevalence in summer and during the mating season. Alarm state was weakly related to group size but not to group composition. Males were farther apart and more aggressive than females in groups. Proportion of males in mixed-sex groups declined with increased group size. Intersexual patterns of grouping and social behavior of urban deer supported the social factor hypothesis but not the predation risk hypothesis.

Group composition and cohesion in sympatric white-tailed deer and mule deer

2003 ◽  
Vol 81 (7) ◽  
pp. 1119-1130 ◽  
Author(s):  
Susan Lingle
Keyword(s):  
Group Size ◽  
Mule Deer ◽  
Size Composition ◽  
Odocoileus Hemionus ◽  
Habitat Conditions ◽  
Small Female ◽  
Habitat Variation ◽  
The Social ◽  
Southern Alberta ◽  
Large Groups

White-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) have been reported to live in smaller groups than mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus). Group size, however, generally varies with habitat conditions, and no comparison has been made between the social structures of the two species living in the same ecological conditions. I compared the size, composition, and stability of groups formed by sympatric whitetails and mule deer living in a prairie habitat in southern Alberta. Seasonal trends were similar for the two species. Females and fawns usually formed small groups during summer. Larger mixed-sex groups became increasingly common during winter, well after the breeding season. Despite the similar seasonal trend, mule deer were significantly more likely than whitetails to occur in relatively large groups composed of both sexes during winter, and whitetails were more likely to occur in small female groups. Mule deer groups were more stable than whitetail groups, and marked mule deer fawns developed strong associations with other known fawns. Habitat variation was limited and was not related to group size. These results show that the composition and cohesion of whitetail and mule deer groups differ, even when the species live in similar circumstances. The differences in grouping behaviour, larger more cohesive groups formed by mule deer than by whitetails, are consistent with those expected to result from the selection pressure of predation.

scholarly journals Wild geladas (Theropithecus gelada) in crops—more than in pasture areas—reduce aggression and affiliation

Primates ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marta Caselli ◽  
Anna Zanoli ◽  
Carlo Dagradi ◽  
Alessandro Gallo ◽  
Dereje Yazezew ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Social Behavior ◽  
Human Disturbance ◽  
Urban Environments ◽  
Affiliative Behavior ◽  
Theropithecus Gelada ◽  
Biological Contamination ◽  
Focal Animal ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Unprotected Area ◽  
Human Primate

AbstractHuman–primate interfaces are expanding and, despite recent studies on primates from peri-urban environments, little research exists on the impact of agriculture and/or pasture areas on primate social behavior and health. We assessed how crop/pasture areas potentially alter social behavior and health of wild geladas (Theropithecus gelada) frequenting the unprotected area of Kundi (Ethiopia). We predicted that compared to pasture areas, crop areas (i) would be more challenging for geladas (prediction 1) and (ii) would have a greater impact on both aggressive and affiliative behavior, by reducing grooming time and enhancing competition (prediction 2). During January–May 2019 and December 2019–February 2020, we collected data (via scan, focal animal sampling, and video analyses) on direct human disturbance, external signs of pathologies and social behavior of 140 individuals from 14 one-male units and two all-male units. Animals experienced the highest level of human disturbance in crop areas (in line with prediction 1). Individuals from the groups preferentially frequenting crop areas showed the highest prevalence of external signs of pathologies consistent with chemical and biological contamination (alopecia/abnormally swollen parts). We collected 48 fecal samples. Samples from frequent crop users contained the highest rates of parasitic elements/gram (egg/larva/oocyst/cyst) from Entamoeba histolytica/dispar, a parasite common in human settlements of the Amhara region. In crop areas, subjects spent less time grooming but engaged in lower rates of intense aggression (in partial agreement with prediction 2). We speculate that the reduction in social behavior may be a tactic adopted by geladas to minimize the likelihood of detection and maximize food intake while foraging in crops.

A stranger in the family? On the social behavior of a leucistic collared peccary (Pecari tajacu) with pigmented conspecifics

2019 ◽  
Vol 60 (2) ◽  
pp. 303-305
Author(s):  
Valdir Leite da Silva ◽  
José Cândido ◽  
José Nelson Campanha ◽  
Doraci R. de Oliveira ◽  
Carla Gheler-Costa ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Social Behavior ◽  
The Social ◽  
The Family ◽  
Pecari Tajacu ◽  
Collared Peccary

Transition from Childcare Institutions to Adulthood for Youth: Through the Lens of Identity and Gender

2020 ◽  
pp. 234930032098055
Author(s):  
Garima Sharma
Keyword(s):  
Young Adults ◽  
Qualitative Study ◽  
Social Factor ◽  
Smooth Transition ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Male And Female ◽  
Female Youth ◽  
Youth Identity ◽  
The Social ◽  
And Gender

This article explores the transition of youth from childcare institutions as young adults through the lens of youth identity and gender. The research revolves around rethinking the delicate boundaries of adolescence and adulthood for the ‘institutionalised’ youth that is already on the edge of the society. This research tries to understand and decode the experiences of youth, who have lived in the childcare institutions. The childcare institutions reinforce the gender roles through its practices and structure, enabling gaps and challenges for both male and female youth outside the childcare institutions. There is an absence of a strong mechanism, enabling the smooth transition of youth from childcare institutions to adulthood. This results in unprepared young adults for an unplanned transition, fostering several challenges on them as they exit the childcare system. This is a qualitative study. The research includes both male and female youth who have lived in childcare institutions situated in Delhi. The data was collected using semi-structured interviews with the youth. This study finds that youth leaving the childcare institutions are at higher risks of having negative adult outcomes in life. While there is an absolute absence of any body or mechanism to help the youth transit smoothly, childcare institutions reinforce the inferiority and exclusion on a child during the stay period, creating a foundation for youth to perceive the social factor outside the institutions.

scholarly journals Pharmacological modulation of AMPA receptors rescues specific impairments in social behavior associated with the A350V Iqsec2 mutation

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Renad Jabarin ◽  
Nina Levy ◽  
Yasmin Abergel ◽  
Joshua H. Berman ◽  
Amir Zag ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Social Behavior ◽  
Ampa Receptors ◽  
Emotional State ◽  
Social Discrimination ◽  
Glutamatergic Synapses ◽  
Behavioral Deficits ◽  
Pharmacological Modulation ◽  
The Social ◽  
State Preference ◽  
Molecular Pathophysiology

AbstractIn this study we tested the hypothesis that pharmacological modulation of glutamatergic neurotransmission could rescue behavioral deficits exhibited by mice carrying a specific mutation in the Iqsec2 gene. The IQSEC2 protein plays a key role in glutamatergic synapses and mutations in the IQSEC2 gene are a frequent cause of neurodevelopmental disorders. We have recently reported on the molecular pathophysiology of one such mutation A350V and demonstrated that this mutation downregulates AMPA type glutamatergic receptors (AMPAR) in A350V mice. Here we sought to identify behavioral deficits in A350V mice and hypothesized that we could rescue these deficits by PF-4778574, a positive AMPAR modulator. Using a battery of social behavioral tasks, we found that A350V Iqsec2 mice exhibit specific deficits in sex preference and emotional state preference behaviors as well as in vocalizations when encountering a female mouse. The social discrimination deficits, but not the impaired vocalization, were rescued with a single dose of PF-4778574. We conclude that social behavior deficits associated with the A350V Iqsec2 mutation may be rescued by enhancing AMPAR mediated synaptic transmission.

scholarly journals Social environment influences the relationship between genotype and gene expression in wild baboons

2013 ◽  
Vol 368 (1618) ◽  
pp. 20120345 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel E. Runcie ◽  
Ralph T. Wiedmann ◽  
Elizabeth A. Archie ◽  
Jeanne Altmann ◽  
Gregory A. Wray ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Individual Differences ◽  
Social Environment ◽  
Group Size ◽  
Early Life ◽  
Social Connectedness ◽  
Dominance Rank ◽  
Social Stressors ◽  
The Social ◽  
Wild Baboons

Variation in the social environment can have profound effects on survival and reproduction in wild social mammals. However, we know little about the degree to which these effects are influenced by genetic differences among individuals, and conversely, the degree to which social environmental variation mediates genetic reaction norms. To better understand these relationships, we investigated the potential for dominance rank, social connectedness and group size to modify the effects of genetic variation on gene expression in the wild baboons of the Amboseli basin. We found evidence for a number of gene–environment interactions (GEIs) associated with variation in the social environment, encompassing social environments experienced in adulthood as well as persistent effects of early life social environment. Social connectedness, maternal dominance rank and group size all interacted with genotype to influence gene expression in at least one sex, and either in early life or in adulthood. These results suggest that social and behavioural variation, akin to other factors such as age and sex, can impact the genotype–phenotype relationship. We conclude that GEIs mediated by the social environment are important in the evolution and maintenance of individual differences in wild social mammals, including individual differences in responses to social stressors.

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