scholarly journals Ecogeography of group size suggests differences in drivers of sociality among cooperatively breeding fairywrens

2022 ◽  
Author(s):  
Allison E. Johnson ◽  
Joseph F. Welklin ◽  
Ian R. Hoppe ◽  
Daizaburo Shizuka
Keyword(s):  
Social Systems ◽  
Group Living ◽  
Cost Of Reproduction ◽  
Harsh Environments ◽  
Costs And Benefits ◽  
Resource Defense ◽  
Social Variation ◽  
Cooperatively Breeding ◽  
The Cost ◽  
Insight Into

Cooperatively breeding species exhibit a range of social behaviors associated with different costs and benefits to group-living, often in association with different environmental conditions. For example, species in which collective-care of offspring reduces the cost of reproduction are more common in harsh environments (true cooperative breeding), while species that collectively defend resources are present in benign environments (family-living). Here, we examine whether environment also shapes sociality within cooperatively-breeding species. We illustrate that Purple-backed Fairywrens, which primarily gain intrinsic, or collective-care benefits, have larger groups in hot, dry environments and smaller groups in cool, wet environments, whereas Superb Fairywrens which primarily gain extrinsic, or resource defense benefits, exhibit the opposite trend. We suggest differences in the costs and benefits of sociality contribute to these opposing ecogeographic patterns, demonstrating that comparisons of intraspecific patterns of social variation across species can provide insight into how ecology shapes transitions between social systems.

scholarly journals The Cost of Reproduction in a Cooperatively Breeding Mammal: Consequences of Seasonal Variation in Rainfall, Reproduction, and Reproductive Suppression

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul Juan Jacobs ◽  
Daniel William Hart ◽  
Tobias Suess ◽  
Andries Koch Janse van Vuuren ◽  
Nigel Charles Bennett
Keyword(s):  
Oxidative Stress ◽  
Seasonal Variation ◽  
Cost Of Reproduction ◽  
Dry Season ◽  
Breeding Period ◽  
Wet Season ◽  
Reproductive Suppression ◽  
Mole Rat ◽  
Cooperatively Breeding ◽  
The Cost

Biological investments, such as reproduction, are influenced by both biotic and abiotic factors and their interactions. The trade-off between reproduction and survival has been well established. Seasonally breeding species, therefore, may exhibit variations in these trade-offs, but there is a dearth of knowledge concerning this. This study investigated the physiological cost of reproduction (measured through oxidative stress) across seasons in the cooperatively breeding highveld mole-rat (Cryptomys hottentotus pretoriae), one of the few seasonal breeding mole-rats. Oxidative stress indicates elevated reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, which can overwhelm antioxidant defences resulting in damaged proteins, lipids and DNA, which overall can reduce longevity and compromise reproduction. Oxidative markers such as total oxidant status (TOS-measure of total peroxides present), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), oxidative stress index (OSI), and malondialdehyde (MDA) are utilised to measure oxidative stress. In this study, breeding and non-breeding male (NBM) and female mole-rats were captured during the dry season (breeding period) and wet season (non-breeding period). There was an apparent cost of reproduction in the highveld mole-rat; however, the seasonality pattern to the cost of reproduction varied between the sexes. Breeding females (BFs) had significantly higher MDA during the breeding period/dry season in comparison to the non-breeding period/wet season; this is possibly a consequence of bearing and nursing offspring. Contrastingly, breeding males (BMs) showed increased oxidative damage in the non-breeding/wet season compared to the breeding/dry season, possibly due to increased activities of protecting their mating rights for the next breeding/dry season, but this was not significant. Interestingly, during the non-breeding period/wet season, non-breeding females (NBFs) are released from their reproductive suppression, which resulted in increases in TOS and OSI, which again indicated that just the mere ability to be able to breed results in a cost (oxidative stress). Therefore we can speculate that highveld mole-rats exhibited seasonal variation in redox balance brought about by variation in abiotic variables (e.g., rainfall), physiology and behaviour. We conclude that physiological changes associated with reproduction are sufficient to induce significant acute oxidative stress in the plasma of female highveld mole-rats, which become alleviated following transition to the non-breeding season/wet period suggesting a possible hormetic effect.

Social status influences responses to unfamiliar conspecifics in a cooperatively breeding fish

Behaviour ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 152 (12-13) ◽  
pp. 1821-1839 ◽  
Author(s):  
Isaac Y. Ligocki ◽  
Adam R. Reddon ◽  
Jennifer K. Hellmann ◽  
Constance M. O’Connor ◽  
Susan Marsh-Rollo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Social Status ◽  
Cichlid Fish ◽  
Group Living ◽  
Costs And Benefits ◽  
Control Groups ◽  
High Ranking ◽  
The Social ◽  
Cooperatively Breeding ◽  
Group Members ◽  
Group Member

In group living animals, individuals may visit other groups. The costs and benefits of such visits for the members of a group will depend on the attributes and intentions of the visitor, and the social status of responding group members. Using wild groups of the cooperatively breeding cichlid fish (Neolamprologus pulcher), we compared group member responses to unfamiliar ‘visiting’ conspecifics in control groups and in experimentally manipulated groups from which a subordinate the same size and sex as the visitor was removed. High-ranking fish were less aggressive towards visitors in removal groups than in control groups; low-ranking subordinates were more aggressive in the removal treatment. High-ranking females and subordinates the same size and sex as the visitor responded most aggressively toward the visitor in control groups. These results suggest that visitors are perceived as potential group joiners, and that such visits impose different costs and benefits on current group members.

scholarly journals Isotocin neuronal phenotypes differ among social systems in cichlid fishes

2017 ◽  
Vol 4 (5) ◽  
pp. 170350 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adam R. Reddon ◽  
Constance M. O'Connor ◽  
Erin Nesjan ◽  
Jason Cameron ◽  
Jennifer K. Hellmann ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cooperative Breeding ◽  
Social Evolution ◽  
Social Systems ◽  
Cichlid Fish ◽  
Group Living ◽  
Evolutionary Transition ◽  
Evolution Of Sociality ◽  
Cooperatively Breeding ◽  
Open Question ◽  
Complementary Analysis

Social living has evolved numerous times across a diverse array of animal taxa. An open question is how the transition to a social lifestyle has shaped, and been shaped by, the underlying neurohormonal machinery of social behaviour. The nonapeptide neurohormones, implicated in the regulation of social behaviours, are prime candidates for the neuroendocrine substrates of social evolution. Here, we examined the brains of eight cichlid fish species with divergent social systems, comparing the number and size of preoptic neurons that express the nonapeptides isotocin and vasotocin. While controlling for the influence of phylogeny and body size, we found that the highly social cooperatively breeding species ( n  = 4) had fewer parvocellular isotocin neurons than the less social independently breeding species ( n  = 4), suggesting that the evolutionary transition to group living and cooperative breeding was associated with a reduction in the number of these neurons. In a complementary analysis, we found that the size and number of isotocin neurons significantly differentiated the cooperatively breeding from the independently breeding species. Our results suggest that isotocin is related to sociality in cichlids and may provide a mechanistic substrate for the evolution of sociality.

scholarly journals The Goldilocks Effect: Female geladas in mid-sized groups have higher fitness

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elizabeth Tinsley Johnson ◽  
Noah Snyder-Mackler ◽  
Amy Lu ◽  
Thore J. Bergman ◽  
Jacinta C. Beehner
Keyword(s):  
Group Size ◽  
Size Variation ◽  
Group Living ◽  
Mortality Rates ◽  
Female Mortality ◽  
Individual Fitness ◽  
The Cost ◽  
Large Groups ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Insight Into

AbstractThe cost-to-benefit ratio of group-living is thought to vary with group size: individuals in “optimal” groups should have higher fitness than individuals in groups that are too large or small. However, the relationship between group size and individual fitness has been difficult to establish, a gap we address here in the gelada. We demonstrate group size effects on the production of surviving offspring and on female mortality rates, which are largely explained by group-size variation in infanticide risk and foraging competition. We also identify a mechanism by which females may alter group size: in large groups, females groomed with less than half of their group, increasing the likelihood of fissions. Our findings provide insight into how and why group size shapes fitness in long-lived species.

scholarly journals Association between social factors and gastrointestinal parasite product excretion in a group of non-cooperatively breeding carrion crows

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Claudia A.F. Wascher
Keyword(s):  
Social Behavior ◽  
Social Environment ◽  
Social Systems ◽  
Dominance Rank ◽  
Group Living ◽  
Published Data ◽  
Gastrointestinal Parasite ◽  
The Social ◽  
Cooperatively Breeding ◽  
Lower Ranking

AbstractThe social environment strongly affects the physiological stress response in group living animals, which in turn can affect the immune system and increase susceptibility to parasites. Here, I investigate relationships between social behavior and gastrointestinal parasite product excretion in the carrion crow (Corvus corone). Individuals from a population of non-cooperatively breeding carrion crows excreted less samples containing coccidian oocysts when kept in larger groups (8 or 9 individuals) compared to those individuals kept in smaller groups (2 or 3 individuals). Lower-ranking individuals excreted more samples containing parasite oocysts compared to higher-ranking individuals. The strength of affiliative relationships and number of related individuals in the group did not relate to the proportion of droppings containing coccidian oocysts. The present results confirm an association between social environment and parasite excretion patterns in carrion crows, but the patterns described in the present study differ from previously published data derived from a group of cooperatively breeding crows. This illustrates that differences between the social systems of carrion crows might result in different associations between the social environment and parasite product excretion patterns.Significance statementOne major cost of group living is an increase in susceptibility to parasites, however not all group living animals are affected by this in the same way. A better understanding how social behavior is associated with parasite burden can help to better understand evolution of group living. This study attempts to investigate associations between dominance rank, affiliative relationships as well as groups size and gastrointestinal parasite product excretion in a group of captive carrion crows. Lower-ranking individuals excreted more samples containing parasite oocysts compared to higher-ranking individuals, confirming an association between social relationships within the groups (for example dominance rank) and parasite excretion patterns.

Hostile Takeovers and Anti-takeover Defenses in the Russian Corporate Market

2007 ◽  
pp. 70-84 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. Demidova
Keyword(s):  
Cost Benefit Analysis ◽  
Cost Benefit ◽  
Benefit Analysis ◽  
Costs And Benefits ◽  
Hostile Takeovers ◽  
Russian Market ◽  
Takeover Defenses ◽  
The Cost ◽  
European Markets

This article analyzes definitions and the role of hostile takeovers at the Russian and European markets for corporate control. It develops the methodology of assessing the efficiency of anti-takeover defenses adapted to the conditions of the Russian market. The paper uses the cost-benefit analysis, where the costs and benefits of the pre-bid and post-bid defenses are compared.

scholarly journals Costs and Benefits of Autonomous Shipping—A Literature Review

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (10) ◽  
pp. 4553
Author(s):  
Ewelina Ziajka-Poznańska ◽  
Jakub Montewka
Keyword(s):  
Literature Review ◽  
Business Models ◽  
Financial Models ◽  
State Of The Art ◽  
Costs And Benefits ◽  
Capital Costs ◽  
Research Activities ◽  
Benefit Estimation ◽  
Autonomous Ship ◽  
The Cost

The development of autonomous ship technology is currently in focus worldwide and the literature on this topic is growing. However, an in-depth cost and benefit estimation of such endeavours is in its infancy. With this systematic literature review, we present the state-of-the-art system regarding costs and benefits of the operation of prospective autonomous merchant ships with an objective for identifying contemporary research activities concerning an estimation of operating, voyage, and capital costs in prospective, autonomous shipping and vessel platooning. Additionally, the paper outlines research gaps and the need for more detailed business models for operating autonomous ships. Results reveal that valid financial models of autonomous shipping are lacking and there is significant uncertainty affecting the cost estimates, rendering only a reliable evaluation of specific case studies. The findings of this paper may be found relevant not only by academia, but also organisations considering to undertake a challenge of implementing Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships in their operations.

Locking down behavioural compliance: The role of emotion and emotion regulation in breaches of COVID-19 mitigation measures in Aotearoa New Zealand

2021 ◽  
pp. 135910532110299
Author(s):  
Terise Broodryk ◽  
Kealagh Robinson
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Young Adults ◽  
New Zealand ◽  
Health Behaviours ◽  
Mitigation Measures ◽  
Aotearoa New Zealand ◽  
High Knowledge ◽  
The Cost ◽  
Insight Into

Although anxiety and worry can motivate engagement with COVID-19 preventative behaviours, people may cognitively reframe these unpleasant emotions, restoring wellbeing at the cost of public health behaviours. New Zealand young adults ( n = 278) experiencing nationwide COVID-19 lockdown reported their worry, anxiety, reappraisal and lockdown compliance. Despite high knowledge of lockdown policies, 92.5% of participants reported one or more policy breaches ( M  = 2.74, SD = 1.86). Counter to predictions, no relationships were found between anxiety or worry with reappraisal or lockdown breaches. Findings highlight the importance of targeting young adults in promoting lockdown compliance and offer further insight into the role of emotion during a pandemic.

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