Cooperative Behaviors in Group-Living Spider Mites

Cooperative behaviors are evolutionary stable if the direct and/or indirect fitness benefits exceed the costs of helping. Here we discuss cooperation and behaviors akin to cooperation in subsocial group-living species of two genera of herbivorous spider mites (Tetranychidae), i.e., the largely polyphagous Tetranychus spp. and the nest-building Stigmaeopsis spp., which are specialized on grasses, such as bamboo. These spider mites are distributed in patches on various spatial scales, that is, within and among leaves of individual host plants and among individual hosts of single or multiple plant species. Group-living of spider mites is brought about by plant-colonizing foundresses ovipositing at local feeding sites and natal site fidelity, and by multiple individuals aggregating in the same site in response to direct and/or indirect cues, many of which are associated with webbing. In the case of the former, emerging patches are often composed of genetically closely related individuals, while in the case of the latter, local patches may consist of kin of various degrees and/or non-kin and even heterospecific spider mites. We describe and discuss ultimate and proximate aspects of cooperation by spider mites in host plant colonization and exploitation, dispersal, anti-predator behavior, and nesting-associated behaviors and conclude with theoretical and practical considerations of future research on cooperation in these highly rewarding model animals.

The Neurobiology of Trust

Trust is essential for establishing and maintaining cooperative behaviors between individuals and institutions in a wide variety of social, economic, and political contexts. This book explores trust through the lens of neurobiology, focusing on empirical, methodological, and theoretical aspects. Written by a distinguished group of researchers from economics, psychology, human factors, neuroscience, and psychiatry, the chapters shed light on the neurobiological underpinnings of trust as applied in a variety of domains. Researchers and students will discover a refined understanding of trust by delving into the essential topics in this area of study outlined by leading experts.

Eye image effect in the context of pedestrian safety: a French questionnaire study

Introduction: Human behavior is therefore influenced by the presence of others, which scientists also call ‘the audience effect’. The use of social control to produce more cooperative behaviors may positively influence road use and safety. This study uses an online questionnaire to test how eyes images affect the behavior of pedestrians when crossing a road. Material and methods: Different eyes images of men, women and a child with different facial expressions -neutral, friendly and angry- were presented to participants who were asked what they would feel by looking at these images before crossing a signalized road. Participants completed a questionnaire of 20 questions about pedestrian behaviors (PBQ). The questionnaire was received by 1,447 French participants, 610 of whom answered the entire questionnaire. 71% of participants were women, and the mean age was 35±14 years. Results: Eye images give individuals the feeling they are being observed at 33%, feared at 5% and surprised at 26%, and thus seem to indicate mixed results about avoiding crossing at the red light. The expressions shown in the eyes are also an important factor: feelings of being observed increased by about 10-15% whilst feelings of being scared or inhibited increased by about 5% as the expression changed from neutral to friendly to angry. No link was found between the results of our questionnaire and those of the Pedestrian Behavior Questionnaire (PBQ).Conclusion: This study shows that the use of eye images could reduce illegal crossings by pedestrians, and is thus of key interest as a practical road safety tool. However, the effect is limited and how to increase this nudge effect needs further consideration.

The Creation and Validation of Active Cooperative Behavior Scales for Nurses

Background and PurposeGeneral conflict management instruments are employed in healthcare settings despite their lack of focus on active and cooperative behaviors which are linked to positive outcomes. The purpose of this study is to create and validate active cooperative behavior scales for nurses.MethodsTwo convenience samples were collected via an online panel and a public registry of nurses to create and validate the new scales using factor analysis, and hierarchical regression in a nursing/healthcare sample.ResultsThe newly created active cooperative behavior scales (ACBS) showed acceptable internal consistency and explained more variance on job satisfaction than a commonly used compromising subscale.ConclusionsThe ACBS can assist currently practicing nurses and hospitals in identifying easily implementable behaviors, active listening, appropriate assertiveness, and brainstorming, that lead to effective conflict management.

Linking Male Reproductive Success to Effort Within and Among Nests in a Co-Breeding Stream Fish

Nest construction is an energetically costly behavior displayed by males in many taxa. In some species, males construct nests and co-breed with other males and they may construct multiple nests in a breeding season. However, little is understood about how allocation of effort within and among nests affects male reproductive success. We characterized reproductive effort of male bluehead chub (Nocomis leptocephalus) on nests in an entire breeding season using PIT antennas deployed around nests and linked effort within and among nests to reproductive success, measured by number of offspring assigned genetically to each male, in a small stream in South Carolina, USA. We monitored time spent by a total of 34 males on each of 18 nests during the spawning season in 2017. A Bayesian hierarchical analysis showed that larger males spent more time constructing and maintaining a given nest, and consequently were more reproductively successful than smaller males on the same nest. Combined with aggressive behavior displayed by larger males toward smaller males, this finding suggested that reproductive effort including agonistic interactions within nests was a determinant of reproductive success. In contrast, more males together constructed larger nests, which led to higher reproductive success of members that constructed those nests. Number of nests that male constructed, a measure of effort across nests, was not a predictor of reproductive success, indicating that reproductive success varied among nests due to nest size. Our study showed that male reproductive success was determined by both aggressive and cooperative behaviors in a co-breeding species.

The Role of Oxytocin and Vasopressin in the Neural Regulation of Social Behavior

Within the central nervous system, the neuropeptides oxytocin and vasopressin are key regulators of social behavior. While their effects can be nuanced, data suggest that they can influence behavior at multiple levels, including an individual’s personality/temperament, their social interactions in smaller groups (or one-on-one interactions), and their behavior in larger groups. At a mechanistic level, oxytocin and vasopressin help to integrate complex information—including aspects of an animal’s external and internal state—in order to shape behavioral output. Oxytocin and vasopressin help to modulate behaviors that bring animals together (i.e., cooperative behaviors) as well as behaviors that keep animals apart (i.e., competitive behaviors), with the modulatory effects often being species-, sex-, and context-dependent. While there continues to be extensive study of the function of these nonapeptides within individual brain nuclei, over the last two decades behavioral neuroendocrinologists have also made great strides in exploring their roles within larger brain networks that help to regulate social behavior. Looking forward, work on oxytocin and vasopressin will continue to shed light on how the neural regulation of social behaviors are similar, and/or dissimilar, within and between species and sexes, as well as provide insights into the neural chemistry that underlies behavioral differences in neurotypical and neurodivergent individuals.

The prefrontal cortex and (uniquely) human cooperation: a comparative perspective

Humans have an exceptional ability to cooperate relative to many other species. We review the neural mechanisms supporting human cooperation, focusing on the prefrontal cortex. One key feature of human social life is the prevalence of cooperative norms that guide social behavior and prescribe punishment for noncompliance. Taking a comparative approach, we consider shared and unique aspects of cooperative behaviors in humans relative to nonhuman primates, as well as divergences in brain structure that might support uniquely human aspects of cooperation. We highlight a medial prefrontal network common to nonhuman primates and humans supporting a foundational process in cooperative decision-making: valuing outcomes for oneself and others. This medial prefrontal network interacts with lateral prefrontal areas that are thought to represent cooperative norms and modulate value representations to guide behavior appropriate to the local social context. Finally, we propose that more recently evolved anterior regions of prefrontal cortex play a role in arbitrating between cooperative norms across social contexts, and suggest how future research might fruitfully examine the neural basis of norm arbitration.

Cell Growth Model with Stochastic Gene Expression Helps Understand the Growth Advantage of Metabolic Exchange and Auxotrophy

Cooperative behaviors are highly prevalent in the wild, but their evolution is not understood. Metabolic flux models can demonstrate the viability of metabolic exchange as cooperative interactions, but steady-state growth models cannot explain why cooperators grow faster.

A Recipe for Success: The Effect of Dyadic Communication and Cooperative Gameplay on Subsequent Non-gaming Task Performance

Cooperative game play has been associated with a growing list of prosocial benefits. However, less research has examined its constituent parts to determine their contribution to subsequent positive outcomes. The current study examined partners’ communication as a common and even imperative aspect of cooperative play that may largely account for its positive effects on cooperative behaviors and effective teamwork. Partners played a cooperative game (Overcooked 2) alone or with a partner, and in the latter case with or without the ability to communicate, before engaging in two puzzle-solving tasks that required effective and efficient communication for successful performances. Results suggest communication is unnecessary, and may even be detrimental to, subsequent team performances on non-gaming tasks, and that it seems unlikely to account for the cooperative norms proposed to be the theoretical mechanism behind cooperative play’s positive effects. The conclusion discusses theoretical implications and potential future research.