Cortisol responsiveness and dominance rank, but not baseline cortisol level, are repeatable traits in adult female guinea pigs

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Taylor Lynne Rystrom ◽  
Romy C. Prawitt ◽  
S. Helene Richter ◽  
Norbert Sachser ◽  
Sylvia Kaiser
Keyword(s):  
Social Behavior ◽  
Adult Female ◽  
Guinea Pigs ◽  
Dominance Rank ◽  
Dominance Hierarchies ◽  
Current State ◽  
Baseline Cortisol ◽  
Group Members ◽  
Endocrine Mechanism ◽  
Males And Females

Social interactions among group members often lead to the formation of stable dominance hierarchies. Glucocorticoids (i.e. cortisol) have been proposed as an endocrine mechanism underlying social behavior, and previous studies have linked baseline as well as challenge glucocorticoid concentrations to dominance rank. Since the importance of rank on fitness differs between males and females, selection pressures acting on the underlying endocrine mechanisms may differ between the sexes. In male guinea pigs, for example, it is known that cortisol responsiveness mediates social behavior and that dominance rank and cortisol responsiveness are stable within individuals over time. It is unclear whether this is also the case for female guinea pigs. Thus the aim of this study was to investigate whether cortisol concentrations are repeatable in female guinea pigs and whether female rank is correlated to baseline cortisol concentrations or cortisol responsiveness. We show that cortisol responsiveness and dominance rank were significantly repeatable but not correlated in female guinea pigs. Furthermore, baseline cortisol was not repeatable and also did not correlate to dominance rank. Our results demonstrate that baseline cortisol and cortisol responsiveness represent different biological processes; cortisol responsiveness reflects a stable trait while baseline cortisol likely fluctuates with current state. Furthermore, cortisol responsiveness as a mediator of aggressive behavior and dominance acquisition might not be important for maintaining dominance hierarchies in stable groups of females displaying minimal aggression. Overall, this study reveals the remarkable stability of cortisol responsiveness and dominance rank in an adult female rodent and lays the groundwork for future investigations into the causes and consequences of this individual variation.

scholarly journals Repeatability of endocrine traits and dominance rank in female guinea pigs

2022 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Taylor L. Rystrom ◽  
Romy C. Prawitt ◽  
S. Helene Richter ◽  
Norbert Sachser ◽  
Sylvia Kaiser
Keyword(s):  
Social Behavior ◽  
Guinea Pigs ◽  
Dominance Rank ◽  
Social Contexts ◽  
Cortisol Concentration ◽  
Mammal Species ◽  
Baseline Cortisol ◽  
Two Measures ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Open Question

Abstract Background Glucocorticoids (e.g. cortisol) are associated with variation in social behavior, and previous studies have linked baseline as well as challenge-induced glucocorticoid concentrations to dominance status. It is known that cortisol response to an acute challenge is repeatable and correlates to social behavior in males of many mammal species. However, it is unclear whether these patterns are also consistent for females. The aim of this study was to investigate whether baseline and response cortisol concentrations are repeatable in female guinea pigs (Cavia aperea f. porcellus) and whether dominance rank is stable and correlated to baseline cortisol concentration and/or cortisol responsiveness. Results Our results show that cortisol responsiveness (after 1 h: R = 0.635, 95% CI = 0.229, 0.927; after 2 h: R = 0.764, 95% CI = 0.433, 0.951) and dominance rank (R = 0.709, 95% CI = 0.316, 0.935) of females were significantly repeatable after six weeks but not correlated. Baseline cortisol was not repeatable (R = 0, 95% CI = 0, 0.690) and also did not correlate to dominance rank. Furthermore, the difference in repeatability estimates of baseline and response values was due to high within-individual variance of baseline cortisol concentration; the amount of between-individual variance was similar for baseline cortisol and the two measures of cortisol responsiveness. Conclusions Females occupying different dominance ranks did not have long-term differences in cortisol concentrations, and cortisol responsiveness does not seem to be significantly involved in the maintenance of dominance rank. Overall, this study reveals the remarkable stability of cortisol responsiveness and dominance rank in a female rodent, and it remains an open question whether the magnitude of cortisol responsiveness is adaptive in social contexts for females.

scholarly journals Dominance in a socially dynamic setting: hierarchical structure and conflict dynamics in ravens' foraging groups

2022 ◽  
Vol 377 (1845) ◽  
Author(s):  
Palmyre H. Boucherie ◽  
Mario Gallego-Abenza ◽  
Jorg J. M. Massen ◽  
Thomas Bugnyar
Keyword(s):  
Dynamic Structure ◽  
First Year ◽  
Dominance Hierarchies ◽  
Dynamic Setting ◽  
Current State ◽  
Dominance Structure ◽  
In Captivity ◽  
In The Wild ◽  
Group Members ◽  
To Receive

Dominance hierarchies typically emerge in systems where group members regularly encounter and compete for resources. In birds, the ‘open’ and dynamic structure of foraging groups may prevent the emergence of structured hierarchies, although this assumption have hardly been tested. We report on agonistic data for ravens Corvus corax , collected over two 18-month periods for 183 marked individuals of a wild (fluid) population and 51 birds from six captive (stable) groups. We show that the dominance structure (steep and transitive) in wild foraging groups is strikingly similar to that found in captivity. In the wild, we found that higher ranks are mainly occupied by males, older and more aggressive individuals that also tend to receive fewer aggressions. Exploring the mechanisms sustaining the wild dominance structure, we confirmed that males are more aggressive than females and, with age, tend to receive fewer aggressions than females. Males that are about to leave the foraging groups for some months are less aggressive than newcomers or locals, while newcomers are specifically targeted by aggressions in their first year (as juveniles). Taken together, our results indicate that the socially dynamic conditions ravens face during foraging do not hinder, but provide opportunities for, using (advanced) social cognition. This article is part of the theme issue ‘The centennial of the pecking order: current state and future prospects for the study of dominance hierarchies’.

Social Activities Related to Rhesus Monkey Consort Behavior

1963 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 375-379 ◽  
Author(s):  
Irwin S. Bernstein
Keyword(s):  
Social Interaction ◽  
Rhesus Monkey ◽  
Adult Female ◽  
Rhesus Monkeys ◽  
Dominance Rank ◽  
Dominant Male ◽  
Estrus Cycle ◽  
Behavioral Correlates ◽  
Female Rhesus ◽  
Group Members

The dominant male and six adult female rhesus monkeys within a larger group were studied to determine behavioral correlates of the estrus cycle. Consort behavior was expressed primarily in increased proximity scores and consequent increases in all types of social interaction. Estrus females enjoy greater toleration by the male, but may be attacked too, and show no change in dominance rank relative to other group members. Some females remain in proximity with the dominant male whenever tolerated regardless of sexual status and others avoid him even when in estrus.

scholarly journals Costs dictate strategic investment in dominance interactions

2022 ◽  
Vol 377 (1845) ◽  
Author(s):  
Tobit Dehnen ◽  
Danai Papageorgiou ◽  
Brendah Nyaguthii ◽  
Wismer Cherono ◽  
Julia Penndorf ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Lower Cost ◽  
Social Groups ◽  
Theme Issue ◽  
Pecking Order ◽  
Dominance Hierarchies ◽  
Strategic Investment ◽  
Aggressive Interactions ◽  
Current State ◽  
Dominance Interactions ◽  
Group Members

Dominance is important for access to resources. As dominance interactions are costly, individuals should be strategic in whom they interact with. One hypothesis is that individuals should direct costly interactions towards those closest in rank, as they have most to gain—in terms of attaining or maintaining dominance—from winning such interactions. Here, we show that male vulturine guineafowl ( Acryllium vulturinum ), a gregarious species with steep dominance hierarchies, strategically express higher-cost aggressive interactions towards males occupying ranks immediately below themselves in their group's hierarchy. By contrast, lower-cost aggressive interactions are expressed towards group members further down the hierarchy. By directly evaluating differences in the strategic use of higher- and lower-cost aggressive interactions towards competitors, we show that individuals disproportionately use highest-cost interactions—such as chases—towards males found one to three ranks below themselves. Our results support the hypothesis that the costs associated with different interaction types can determine their expression in social groups with steep dominance hierarchies. This article is part of the theme issue ‘The centennial of the pecking order: current state and future prospects for the study of dominance hierarchies’.

scholarly journals Effects of body size and prior residence on dominance hierarchies in female Asian particolored bats

2020 ◽  
Vol 101 (2) ◽  
pp. 526-534 ◽  
Author(s):  
Heng Liu ◽  
Xin Zhao ◽  
Yuze Wang ◽  
Ying Liu ◽  
Jiang Feng ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Body Size ◽  
Dominance Rank ◽  
Social Rank ◽  
Dominance Hierarchies ◽  
Group Stability ◽  
Prior Residence ◽  
Two Factors ◽  
Group Members ◽  
Similar Body ◽  
Forearm Length

Abstract Social animals may cooperate to gain resources such as food and territory. However, unavoidable conflicts over limited resources frequently occur between group members. Social rank may effectively decrease conflicts within animal social groups, thereby reducing energy consumption and maintaining group stability. In this study, we tested the two factors most often proposed to influence winning a conflict: body size and prior residence. Our results showed that female Asian particolored bats (Vespertilio sinensis) formed near-linear dominance hierarchies. Forearm length was significantly positively correlated with dominance rank in three replicate experiments. In addition, prior residents had significantly higher dominance ranks than intruders of similar body size. These results suggested that both body size and prior residence might affect dominance ranks in female Asian particolored bats.

scholarly journals Multifaceted origins of sex differences in the brain

2016 ◽  
Vol 371 (1688) ◽  
pp. 20150106 ◽  
Author(s):  
Margaret M. McCarthy
Keyword(s):  
Sex Differences ◽  
State Of The Art ◽  
Human Subjects ◽  
Special Issue ◽  
Molecular Analyses ◽  
The Past ◽  
Current State ◽  
Biological Variable ◽  
Males And Females ◽  
The Brain

Studies of sex differences in the brain range from reductionistic cell and molecular analyses in animal models to functional imaging in awake human subjects, with many other levels in between. Interpretations and conclusions about the importance of particular differences often vary with differing levels of analyses and can lead to discord and dissent. In the past two decades, the range of neurobiological, psychological and psychiatric endpoints found to differ between males and females has expanded beyond reproduction into every aspect of the healthy and diseased brain, and thereby demands our attention. A greater understanding of all aspects of neural functioning will only be achieved by incorporating sex as a biological variable. The goal of this review is to highlight the current state of the art of the discipline of sex differences research with an emphasis on the brain and to contextualize the articles appearing in the accompanying special issue.

Maternal care associates with play dominance rank among adult female rats

2012 ◽  
pp. n/a-n/a ◽  
Author(s):  
Carine I. Parent ◽  
Adina Del Corpo ◽  
Nicole M. Cameron ◽  
Michael J. Meaney
Keyword(s):  
Adult Female ◽  
Maternal Care ◽  
Dominance Rank ◽  
Female Rats

Emergence of size-structured dominance hierarchies through size-dependent feedback

2022 ◽  
Vol 377 (1845) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ian M. Hamilton ◽  
Macie D. Benincasa
Keyword(s):  
Size Structure ◽  
Dynamic Game ◽  
Optimal Investment ◽  
Growth Suppression ◽  
Pecking Order ◽  
Dominance Hierarchies ◽  
Size Dependent ◽  
Current State ◽  
Dominance Structure ◽  
Competition For Food

Size-based dominance hierarchies influence fitness, group size and population dynamics and link dominance structure to evolutionary and ecological outcomes. While larger individuals often gain dominance, social status may influence growth and size in return, resulting in feedbacks among status, growth and size. Here, we present two models evaluating how these feedbacks influence the emergence of size structure in a dominance hierarchy. In the first, size influences competition for food and investment in suppressing growth of groupmates. Stable size differences emerged when suppression was greatest for similarly sized individuals and size had little effect on competition for food. The model predicted size divergence when size strongly affected competition for food. In the second model, we used a dynamic game to solve for optimal investment in growth suppression as a function of size structure. Investment in growth suppression was favoured only when dominants and subordinates were similar in size, generating size ratios different than those expected by chance. Variation in the feedbacks among growth, size and status can explain variation in emergent size structure of dominance hierarchies and its consequences for conflict within groups. This article is part of the theme issue ‘The centennial of the pecking order: current state and future prospects for the study of dominance hierarchies’.

The establishment and maintenance of dominance hierarchies

2022 ◽  
Vol 377 (1845) ◽  
Author(s):  
Elizabeth A. Tibbetts ◽  
Juanita Pardo-Sanchez ◽  
Chloe Weise
Keyword(s):  
Dominance Hierarchy ◽  
Social Dynamics ◽  
Dominance Rank ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Dominance Hierarchies ◽  
Dominance Relationships ◽  
Hierarchy Formation ◽  
Behavioural Dynamics ◽  
Self Organizing

Animal groups are often organized hierarchically, with dominant individuals gaining priority access to resources and reproduction over subordinate individuals. Initial dominance hierarchy formation may be influenced by multiple interacting factors, including an animal's individual attributes, conventions and self-organizing social dynamics. After establishment, hierarchies are typically maintained over the long-term because individuals save time, energy and reduce the risk of injury by recognizing and abiding by established dominance relationships. A separate set of behaviours are used to maintain dominance relationships within groups, including behaviours that stabilize ranks (punishment, threats, behavioural asymmetry), as well as signals that provide information about dominance rank (individual identity signals, signals of dominance). In this review, we describe the behaviours used to establish and maintain dominance hierarchies across different taxa and types of societies. We also review opportunities for future research including: testing how self-organizing behavioural dynamics interact with other factors to mediate dominance hierarchy formation, measuring the long-term stability of social hierarchies and the factors that disrupt hierarchy stability, incorporating phenotypic plasticity into our understanding of the behavioural dynamics of hierarchies and considering how cognition coevolves with the behaviours used to establish and maintain hierarchies. This article is part of the theme issue ‘The centennial of the pecking order: current state and future prospects for the study of dominance hierarchies’.

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