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Palkovitz RE, Lawler RR. Developing evolutionary anthropology in local ecosystems. Evol Anthropol 2024; 33:e22016. [PMID: 38088455 DOI: 10.1002/evan.22016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2023] [Revised: 11/20/2023] [Accepted: 11/29/2023] [Indexed: 12/30/2023]
Abstract
The traditional regional focus of evolutionary anthropology-typically defined as places where hominin fossils, nonhuman primates, and non-western populations reside-forms the basis of much evolutionary anthropological research. Using the highly biodiverse temperate region of Appalachia as an example, we suggest that evolutionary anthropologists have much to gain by stepping outside of this traditional geographic area. Being purposely provocative, we argue that evolutionary anthropologists might also benefit from conducting research in Appalachia and other temperate ecosystems. We briefly discuss multiple areas of study-including studies of seed dispersal, functional redundancy, convergent evolution, human behavioral ecology, and conservation-and how they can be considered within the purview of integrative and evolutionary anthropology. We also highlight broader impacts to higher education that evolutionary anthropologists can help promote by working in local ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel E Palkovitz
- Department of Anthropology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Richard R Lawler
- Department of Sociology and Anthropology, James Madison University, Harrisonburg, Virginia, USA
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2
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Bugnyar T. Why are ravens smart? Exploring the social intelligence hypothesis. JOURNAL OF ORNITHOLOGY 2023; 165:15-26. [PMID: 38225936 PMCID: PMC10787684 DOI: 10.1007/s10336-023-02111-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2023] [Revised: 09/01/2023] [Accepted: 09/07/2023] [Indexed: 01/17/2024]
Abstract
Ravens and other corvids are renowned for their 'intelligence'. For long, this reputation has been based primarily on anecdotes but in the last decades experimental evidence for impressive cognitive skills has accumulated within and across species. While we begin to understand the building blocks of corvid cognition, the question remains why these birds have evolved such skills. Focusing on Northern Ravens Corvus corax, I here try to tackle this question by relating current hypotheses on brain evolution to recent empirical data on challenges faced in the birds' daily life. Results show that foraging ravens meet several assumptions for applying social intelligence: (1) they meet repeatedly at foraging sites, albeit individuals have different site preferences and vary in grouping dynamics; (1) foraging groups are structured by dominance rank hierarchies and social bonds; (3) individual ravens memorize former group members and their relationship valence over years, deduce third-party relationships and use their social knowledge in daily life by supporting others in conflicts and intervening in others' affiliations. Hence, ravens' socio-cognitive skills may be strongly shaped by the 'complex' social environment experienced as non-breeders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Bugnyar
- Department of Behavioral and Cognitive Biology, University of Vienna, Djerassiplatz 1, 1030 Vienna, Austria
- Konrad Lorenz Forschungsstelle, Core Faculty for Behavior and Cognition, University of Vienna, Fischerau 13, 4645 Grünau im Almtal, Austria
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3
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Penndorf J, Ewart KM, Klump BC, Martin JM, Aplin LM. Social network analysis reveals context-dependent kin relationships in wild sulphur-crested cockatoos Cacatua galerita. J Anim Ecol 2023; 92:171-182. [PMID: 36349451 DOI: 10.1111/1365-2656.13839] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2022] [Accepted: 10/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
A preference to associate with kin facilitates inclusive fitness benefits, and increased tolerance or cooperation between kin may be an added benefit of group living. Many species exhibit preferred associations with kin; however, it is often hard to disentangle active preferences from passive overlap, for example caused by limited dispersal or inheritance of social position. Many parrots exhibit social systems consisting of pair-bonded individuals foraging in variably sized fission-fusion flocks within larger communal roosts of hundreds of individuals. Previous work has shown that, despite these fission-fusion dynamics, individuals can exhibit long-term preferred foraging associations outside their pair bonds. Yet the underlying drivers of these social preferences remain largely unknown. In this study, we use a network approach to examine the influence of kinship on social associations and interactions in wild, communally roosting sulphur-crested cockatoos, Cacatua galerita. We recorded roost co-membership, social associations and interactions in 561 individually marked birds across three neighbouring roosts. We then collected genetic samples from 205 cockatoos, and conducted a relationship analysis to construct a kinship network. Finally, we tested correlations between kinship and four social networks: association, affiliative, low-intensity aggression and high-intensity aggression. Our result showed that while roosting groups were clearly defined, they showed little genetic differentiation or kin structuring. Between roost movement was high, with juveniles, especially females, repeatedly moving between roosts. Both within roosting communities, and when visiting different roosts, individuals preferentially associated with kin. Supporting this, individuals were also more likely to allopreen kin. However, contrary to expectation, individuals preferred to direct aggression towards kin, with this effect only observed when individuals shared roost membership. By measuring social networks within and between large roosting groups, we could remove potential effects of passive spatial overlap on kin structuring. Our study reveals that sulphur-crested cockatoos actively prefer to associate with kin, both within and between roosting groups. By examining this across different interaction types, we further demonstrate that sulphur-crested cockatoos exhibit behavioural and context-dependent interaction rules towards kin. Our results help reveal the drivers of social association in this species, while adding to the evidence for social complexity in parrots.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia Penndorf
- Cognitive and Cultural Ecology Research Group, Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior, Radolfzell, Germany
| | - Kyle M Ewart
- Australian Museum Research Institute, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.,School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Barbara Christina Klump
- Cognitive and Cultural Ecology Research Group, Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior, Radolfzell, Germany
| | - John M Martin
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, New South Wales, Australia.,Institute of Science and Learning, Taronga Conservation Society Australia, Mosman, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Lucy M Aplin
- Cognitive and Cultural Ecology Research Group, Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior, Radolfzell, Germany.,Centre for the Advanced Study of Collective Behaviour, University of Konstanz, Constance, Germany.,Division of Ecology and Evolution, Research School of Biology, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
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4
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Davila-Ross M, Palagi E. Laughter, play faces and mimicry in animals: evolution and social functions. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2022; 377:20210177. [PMID: 36126662 PMCID: PMC9489294 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2021.0177] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2021] [Accepted: 02/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Human laughter and laugh faces show similarities in morphology and function with animal playful expressions. To better understand primordial uses and effects of human laughter and laugh faces, it is important to examine these positive expressions in animals from both homologous and analogous systems. Phylogenetic research on hominids provided empirical evidence on shared ancestry across these emotional expressions, including human laughter and laugh faces. In addition, playful expressions of animals, in general, arguably have a key role in the development of social cognitive skills, a role that may help explain their polyphyletic history. The present work examines the evolution and function of playful expressions in primates and other animals. As part of this effort, we also coded for muscle activations of six carnivore taxa with regard to their open-mouth faces of play; our findings provide evidence that these carnivore expressions are homologues of primate open-mouth faces of play. Furthermore, our work discusses how the expressions of animal play may communicate positive emotions to conspecifics and how the motor resonance of these expressions increases affiliation and bonding between the subjects, resembling in a number of ways the important social-emotional effects that laughter and laugh faces have in humans. This article is part of the theme issue 'Cracking the laugh code: laughter through the lens of biology, psychology and neuroscience'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marina Davila-Ross
- Psychology Department, King Henry Building, University of Portsmouth, Portsmouth PO1 2DY, UK
| | - Elisabetta Palagi
- Department of Biology, Ethology Unit, University of Pisa, Via A. Volta 6, 56126, Pisa, Italy
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5
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Schino G, Manzoni C, Di Giovanni M. Social relationships among captive female Himalayan tahr. Ethology 2022. [DOI: 10.1111/eth.13327] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Gabriele Schino
- Istituto di Scienze e Tecnologie della Cognizione Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche Rome Italy
| | - Carola Manzoni
- Dipartimento di Bioscienze Università degli Studi di Milano Milan Italy
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6
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Boucherie PH, Gallego-Abenza M, Massen JJM, Bugnyar T. Dominance in a socially dynamic setting: hierarchical structure and conflict dynamics in ravens' foraging groups. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2022; 377:20200446. [PMID: 35000442 PMCID: PMC8743890 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2020.0446] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2021] [Accepted: 11/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
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'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Palmyre H. Boucherie
- Department of Behavioural and Cognitive Biology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Mario Gallego-Abenza
- Department of Behavioural and Cognitive Biology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- Konrad Lorenz Forschungsstelle, Core Facility for Behaviour and Cognition, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Jorg J. M. Massen
- Animal Behaviour and Cognition, Department of Biology, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Thomas Bugnyar
- Department of Behavioural and Cognitive Biology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- Konrad Lorenz Forschungsstelle, Core Facility for Behaviour and Cognition, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
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7
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Association between social factors and gastrointestinal parasite product excretion in a group of non-cooperatively breeding carrion crows. Behav Ecol Sociobiol 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s00265-021-02967-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
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8
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A new approach to the study of relationship quality in dolphins: Framework and preliminary results. Behav Processes 2020; 181:104260. [PMID: 33017667 DOI: 10.1016/j.beproc.2020.104260] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2020] [Revised: 09/23/2020] [Accepted: 09/25/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Proximity and synchronous behaviours from surface observations have been used to measure association patterns within and between dolphin dyads. To facilitate an investigation of relationship quality in dolphins, we applied a method used for primates and ravens that examined three main components to describe relationships: value, security, and compatibility. Using pilot data from long-term research of two study populations for this preliminary assessment, these three components were extracted from PCA of eight behavioural variables with more than 80 % variance accounted for in both study groups. Only pair swim position differed between groups. Although value, security, and compatibility are abstract terms, each is based on behaviours identified as important in dolphin social life, at least for these two populations. Examining relationship quality in dolphins with a method used to illustrate dyadic differences for primates and ravens allows for a quantitative, comparative assessment of sociality across disparate taxa. Although these species are diverse in their anatomies and in their social habitats (e.g., aquatic, terrestrial, aerial), they may well share the basic societal building blocks in the factors affecting how relationships are formed. We discuss how an examination of these behavioural variables facilitates understanding relationship quality in dolphins, as well as how dolphin relationships fit into the context of social animals' society.
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9
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Girard-Buttoz C, Surbeck M, Samuni L, Boesch C, Fruth B, Crockford C, Hohmann G, Wittig RM. Variable use of polyadic grooming and its effect on access to social partners in wild chimpanzees and bonobos. Anim Behav 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2020.08.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
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10
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Azure-winged magpies' decisions to share food are contingent on the presence or absence of food for the recipient. Sci Rep 2020; 10:16147. [PMID: 32999416 PMCID: PMC7528063 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-73256-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2019] [Accepted: 09/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Helping others is a key feature of human behavior. However, recent studies render this feature not uniquely human, and describe discoveries of prosocial behavior in non-human primates, other social mammals, and most recently in some bird species. Nevertheless, the cognitive underpinnings of this prosociality; i.e., whether animals take others’ need for help into account, often remain obscured. In this study, we take a first step in investigating prosociality in azure-winged magpies by presenting them with the opportunity to share highly desired food with their conspecifics i) in a situation in which these conspecifics had no such food, ii) in a situation in which they too had access to that highly desired food, and iii) in an open, base-line, situation where all had equal access to the same food and could move around freely. We find that azure-winged magpies regularly share high-value food items, preferably with, but not restricted to, members of the opposite sex. Most notably, we find that these birds, and specifically the females, seem to differentiate between whether others have food or do not have food, and subsequently cater to that lack. Begging calls by those without food seem to function as cues that elicit the food-sharing, but the response to that begging is condition-dependent. Moreover, analyses on a restricted dataset that excluded those events in which there was begging showed exactly the same patterns, raising the possibility that the azure-winged magpies might truly notice when others have access to fewer resources (even in the absence of vocal cues). This sharing behavior could indicate a high level of social awareness and prosociality that should be further investigated. Further studies are needed to establish the order of intentionality at play in this system, and whether azure-winged magpies might be able to attribute desire states to their conspecifics.
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11
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Ducouret P, Romano A, Dreiss AN, Marmaroli P, Falourd X, Bincteux M, Roulin A. Elder Barn Owl Nestlings Flexibly Redistribute Parental Food according to Siblings' Need or in Return for Allopreening. Am Nat 2020; 196:257-269. [PMID: 32673089 DOI: 10.1086/709106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
Kin selection and reciprocation of biological services are distinct theories invoked to explain the origin and evolutionary maintenance of altruistic and cooperative behaviors. Although these behaviors are not considered to be mutually exclusive, the cost-benefit balance of behaving altruistically or cooperating reciprocally and the conditions promoting a switch between such different strategies have rarely been tested. Here, we examine the association between allofeeding, allopreening, and vocal solicitations in wild barn owl (Tyto alba) broods under different food abundance conditions: natural food provisioning and after an experimental food supplementation. Allofeeding was performed mainly by elder nestlings (hatching is asynchronous) in prime condition, especially when the cost of forgoing a prey was small (when parents allocated more prey to the food donor and after food supplementation). Nestlings preferentially shared food with the siblings that emitted very intense calls, thus potentially increasing indirect fitness benefits, or with the siblings that provided extensive allopreening to the donor, thus possibly promoting direct benefits from reciprocation. Finally, allopreening was mainly directed toward older siblings, perhaps to maximize the probability of being fed in return. Helping behavior among relatives can therefore be driven by both kin selection and direct cooperation, although it is dependent on the contingent environmental conditions.
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12
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Busia L, Griggio M. The dawn of social bonds: what is the role of shared experiences in non-human animals? Biol Lett 2020; 16:20200201. [PMID: 32673550 DOI: 10.1098/rsbl.2020.0201] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Group-living animals can develop social bonds. Social bonds can be considered a type of social relationship characterized by frequent and consistent affiliative (non-reproductive) interactions. Social bonds with conspecifics bring many advantages, also in terms of direct fitness. A characteristic of social bonds is that they need time to develop. Several studies on humans have emphasized the fact that sharing experiences can affect the strength of social bonds. A similar trend can be spotted in non-human species. For example, a recent experiment showed that if chimpanzees watched a video together with a conspecific, they spent more time in proximity compared to conspecifics with whom they did not actively watch a video. Another experiment on fish showed that individuals who experienced a situation of high predation risk together, showed preference for each other compared to those who did not. As the link between shared experiences and social bonds is not explicitly recognized in non-human animals, the main goal of this work is to propose the exploration of this novel research path. This exploration would contribute to shed light on the evolutionary mechanisms of social bond (or friendship) development and maintenance between individuals in different vertebrate species, from fish to non-human primates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Busia
- School of Sociology and Anthropology, Sun Yat-sen University, Kang Le Lu, Haizhu Qu, Guangzhou, Guangdong, People's Republic of China
| | - Matteo Griggio
- Department of Biology, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
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13
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Mohamed Benkada A, Pontier F, Dufour V. Conflict management in rooks (Corvus frugilegus): Victims do not display post-conflict affiliation but avoid their former aggressor. Behav Processes 2020; 179:104198. [PMID: 32679226 DOI: 10.1016/j.beproc.2020.104198] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2020] [Revised: 07/06/2020] [Accepted: 07/13/2020] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
Many social species use post-conflict behaviors to mitigate the consequences of conflicts. One of these behaviors is the victim's affiliation with its former opponent following conflict in an attempt to restore the damaged relationship. The victim can also affiliate with a third party. Affiliation with former opponents and third parties also alleviates stress. Studies of conflict management strategies in birds mostly concern corvids, and more specifically rooks (Corvus frugilegus). In this colonial pair-bonded species, the most valuable relationship is with the mate. It is rarely conflictual, meaning that there is generally no need for any post-conflict affiliation. However, conflicts occur with other social partners, and victims may primarily use third-party affiliation to avoid renewed aggression after conflicts. Previous studies of rooks failed to show a protective role of third-party affiliations for rook victims. The present study seeks to further investigate the use and efficiency of these conflict management strategies from the victim's perspective. We recorded conflicts and post-conflict behaviors in captive rooks using the standard post-conflict matched control comparison method. Victims did not affiliate with their former opponent or with third parties after conflict, but rather avoided their former aggressor, thus successfully limiting the risk of renewed aggression. Post-conflict affiliations are not observed in all rook colonies, suggesting that avoidance of the former aggressor may be a more commonly used strategy than previously thought.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aïcha Mohamed Benkada
- UMR Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements, Equipe Ethologie Cognitive et Sociale, PRC, INRA, CNRS, Université de Tours, IFCE, Nouzilly, France; Université de Strasbourg, France
| | | | - Valérie Dufour
- UMR Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements, Equipe Ethologie Cognitive et Sociale, PRC, INRA, CNRS, Université de Tours, IFCE, Nouzilly, France.
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14
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Boucherie PH, Blum C, Bugnyar T. Effect of rearing style on the development of social behaviour in young ravens ( Corvus corax). Ethology 2020; 126:595-609. [PMID: 32612316 PMCID: PMC7317586 DOI: 10.1111/eth.13010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2019] [Revised: 12/19/2019] [Accepted: 01/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Early social experiences can affect the development and expression of individual social behaviour throughout life. In particular, early-life social deprivations, notably of parental care, can later have deleterious consequences. We can, therefore, expect rearing procedures such as hand-raising-widely used in ethology and socio-cognitive science-to alter the development of individual social behaviour. We investigated how the rearing style later affected (a) variation in relationship strength among peers and (b) individuals' patterns of social interactions, in three captive groups of juvenile non-breeders consisting of either parent-raised or hand-raised birds, or a mix of both rearing styles. In the three groups, irrespectively of rearing style: strongest relationships (i.e., higher rates of association and affiliations) primarily emerged among siblings and familiar partners (i.e., non-relatives encountered in early life), and mixed-sex and male-male partners established relationships of similar strength, indicating that the rearing style does not severely affect the quality and structure of relationships in young ravens. However, compared to parent-raised ravens, hand-raised ravens showed higher connectedness, i.e., number of partners with whom they mainly associated and affiliated, but formed on average relationships of lower strength, indicating that social experience in early life is not without consequences on the development of ravens' patterns of social interaction. The deprivation of parental care associated with the presence of same-age peers during hand-raising seemed to maximize ravens' propensity to interact with others, indicating that besides parents, interactions with same-age peers matter. Opportunities to interact with, and socially learn from peers, might thus be the key to the acquisition of early social competences in ravens.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Christian Blum
- Department of Cognitive BiologyUniversity of ViennaViennaAustria
| | - Thomas Bugnyar
- Department of Cognitive BiologyUniversity of ViennaViennaAustria
- Haidlhof Research StationUniversity of Vienna and University of Veterinary Medicine ViennaViennaAustria
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15
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Abstract
In bonobos, strong bonds have been documented between unrelated females and between mothers and their adult sons, which can have important fitness benefits. Often age, sex or kinship similarity have been used to explain social bond strength variation. Recent studies in other species also stress the importance of personality, but this relationship remains to be investigated in bonobos. We used behavioral observations on 39 adult and adolescent bonobos housed in 5 European zoos to study the role of personality similarity in dyadic relationship quality. Dimension reduction analyses on individual and dyadic behavioral scores revealed multidimensional personality (Sociability, Openness, Boldness, Activity) and relationship quality components (value, compatibility). We show that, aside from relatedness and sex combination of the dyad, relationship quality is also associated with personality similarity of both partners. While similarity in Sociability resulted in higher relationship values, lower relationship compatibility was found between bonobos with similar Activity scores. The results of this study expand our understanding of the mechanisms underlying social bond formation in anthropoid apes. In addition, we suggest that future studies in closely related species like chimpanzees should implement identical methods for assessing bond strength to shed further light on the evolution of this phenomenon.
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16
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Morales Picard A, Mundry R, Auersperg AM, Boeving ER, Boucherie PH, Bugnyar T, Dufour V, Emery NJ, Federspiel IG, Gajdon GK, Guéry J, Hegedič M, Horn L, Kavanagh E, Lambert ML, Massen JJM, Rodrigues MA, Schiestl M, Schwing R, Szabo B, Taylor AH, Horik JO, Bayern AMP, Seed A, Slocombe KE. Why preen others? Predictors of allopreening in parrots and corvids and comparisons to grooming in great apes. Ethology 2019. [DOI: 10.1111/eth.12999] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Roger Mundry
- Messerli Research Institute University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna Medical University Vienna University of Vienna Vienna Austria
- Platform Bioinformatics and Biostatistics University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna Vienna Austria
| | - Alice M. Auersperg
- Messerli Research Institute University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna Medical University Vienna University of Vienna Vienna Austria
| | - Emily R. Boeving
- Department of Psychology Florida International University Miami FL USA
| | - Palmyre H. Boucherie
- Institut Pluridisciplinaire Hubert Curien University of Strasbourg Strasbourg France
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique UMR 7178 Strasbourg France
| | - Thomas Bugnyar
- Department of Cognitive Biology University of Vienna Vienna Austria
| | - Valérie Dufour
- UMR Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements INRA‐CNRS Université de Tours‐IFCE Nouzilly France
| | - Nathan J. Emery
- School of Biological & Chemical Sciences Queen Mary University of London London UK
| | - Ira G. Federspiel
- Department of Cognitive Biology University of Vienna Vienna Austria
- University of Cambridge Cambridge UK
| | - Gyula K. Gajdon
- Messerli Research Institute University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna Medical University Vienna University of Vienna Vienna Austria
| | | | - Matjaž Hegedič
- Department of Cognitive Biology University of Vienna Vienna Austria
| | - Lisa Horn
- Department of Cognitive Biology University of Vienna Vienna Austria
| | | | - Megan L. Lambert
- Department of Psychology University of York York UK
- Messerli Research Institute University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna Medical University Vienna University of Vienna Vienna Austria
| | - Jorg J. M. Massen
- Department of Cognitive Biology University of Vienna Vienna Austria
- Animal Ecology Group Utrecht University Utrecht The Netherlands
| | - Michelle A. Rodrigues
- Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology University of Illinois Urbana IL USA
| | - Martina Schiestl
- School of Psychology University of Auckland Auckland New Zealand
| | - Raoul Schwing
- Messerli Research Institute University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna Medical University Vienna University of Vienna Vienna Austria
| | - Birgit Szabo
- Department of Cognitive Biology University of Vienna Vienna Austria
- Department of Biological Sciences Macquarie University Sydney Australia
| | - Alex H. Taylor
- School of Psychology University of Auckland Auckland New Zealand
| | - Jayden O. Horik
- Centre for Research in Animal Behaviour, Psychology University of Exeter Exeter UK
| | | | - Amanda Seed
- School of Psychology and Neuroscience University of St Andrews St Andrews UK
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17
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Sierro J, Loretto M, Szipl G, Massen JJM, Bugnyar T. Food calling in wild ravens (
Corvus corax
) revisited: Who is addressed? Ethology 2019. [DOI: 10.1111/eth.12991] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Javier Sierro
- Lancaster Environment Centre Lancaster University UK
- Institute of Biology Leiden (IBL) Leiden University Leiden The Netherlands
| | - Matthias‐Claudio Loretto
- Department of Cognitive Biology University of Vienna Vienna Austria
- Konrad Lorenz Forschungsstelle Core Facility for Behaviour and Cognition University of Vienna Vienna Austria
- Department of Migration Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior Radolfzell Germany
- Department of Biology University of Konstanz Konstanz Germany
| | - Georgine Szipl
- Konrad Lorenz Forschungsstelle Core Facility for Behaviour and Cognition University of Vienna Vienna Austria
- Department of Behavioural Biology University of Vienna Austria
| | - Jorg J. M. Massen
- Department of Cognitive Biology University of Vienna Vienna Austria
- Department of Biology Animal Ecology Group Utrecht University Utrecht The Netherlands
| | - Thomas Bugnyar
- Department of Cognitive Biology University of Vienna Vienna Austria
- Konrad Lorenz Forschungsstelle Core Facility for Behaviour and Cognition University of Vienna Vienna Austria
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18
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Danaher-Garcia NA, Melillo-Sweeting K, Dudzinski KM. Social structure of Atlantic spotted dolphins (Stenella frontalis) off Bimini, The Bahamas (2003–2016): alternate reasons for preferential association in delphinids. Acta Ethol 2019. [DOI: 10.1007/s10211-019-00329-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
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19
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Wascher CA, Canestrari D, Baglione V. Affiliative social relationships and coccidian oocyst excretion in a cooperatively breeding bird species. Anim Behav 2019. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2019.10.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
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20
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Busia L, Schaffner CM, Aureli F. Watch out! Insecure relationships affect vigilance in wild spider monkeys (Ateles geoffroyi). Behav Ecol Sociobiol 2019. [DOI: 10.1007/s00265-019-2773-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
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21
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Wildridge AM, Thomson PC, Garcia SC, Jongman EC, Kerrisk KL. Transitioning from conventional to automatic milking: Effects on the human-animal relationship. J Dairy Sci 2019; 103:1608-1619. [PMID: 31759591 DOI: 10.3168/jds.2019-16658] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2019] [Accepted: 10/02/2019] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
There are several differences in how an automatic milking system (AMS; milking equipment not requiring human intervention for the milk harvesting process) and a conventional milking system (CMS) are managed, where the effect of milking system type on the human-animal relationship has remained unexplored. A survey and observations from 5 Australian dairy farms transitioning from CMS to AMS were taken twice, 1 yr apart, before and after transition to an AMS. The farmers completed a survey and had all farmer-cow interactions documented for 3 d. In addition, a random selection of lactating cows had their avoidance distance (the distance at which they move away from an approaching person) recorded and were involved in a handling test during both visits. The survey findings indicated that basic management practices remained mostly unchanged, whereas records of farmer-cow interactions showed 4 out of 5 farms had less interaction time after AMS transition. This was caused by a reduction in milk harvesting tasks, where a small portion of this time was re-invested into time that farmers spent around the cows without directly interacting with them and into tasks involving close cow contact. Overall, an approximate 27% decline was observed in avoidance distances of cows from an AMS compared with the CMS. A handling test was performed on 4 of the 5 farms before and after AMS transition, where the farmers were asked to move a selection of cows through a gate one at a time. In the AMS more vocal effort was required to move the cows, and the cows responded with a reduced occurrence of running past the farmer and reduced occurrence of slipping in an attempt to avoid the farmers compared with the CMS. Overall, results show that farmers spent less time interacting with cows in the AMS, and that cows were less fearful around people as seen by reduced avoidance distances and reduced stress responses to close handling.
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Affiliation(s)
- A M Wildridge
- Dairy Science Group, School of Life and Environmental Science, Faculty of Science, The University of Sydney, Camden, NSW 2570, Australia.
| | - P C Thomson
- Dairy Science Group, School of Life and Environmental Science, Faculty of Science, The University of Sydney, Camden, NSW 2570, Australia
| | - S C Garcia
- Dairy Science Group, School of Life and Environmental Science, Faculty of Science, The University of Sydney, Camden, NSW 2570, Australia
| | - E C Jongman
- Animal Welfare Science Centre, Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Vic 3010, Australia
| | - K L Kerrisk
- Dairy Science Group, School of Life and Environmental Science, Faculty of Science, The University of Sydney, Camden, NSW 2570, Australia
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22
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Wascher CAF, Feider B, Bugnyar T, Dufour V. Crows and common ravens do not reciprocally exchange tokens with a conspecific to gain food rewards. Ethology 2019. [DOI: 10.1111/eth.12970] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Thomas Bugnyar
- Department of Cognitive Biology University of Vienna Vienna Austria
| | - Valérie Dufour
- Team of Cognitive and Social Ethology UMR 7247 PRC CNRS Inra IFCE University of Tours Tours France
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23
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Piza-Roca C, Strickland K, Kent N, Frere CH. Presence of kin-biased social associations in a lizard with no parental care: the eastern water dragon (Intellagama lesueurii). Behav Ecol 2019. [DOI: 10.1093/beheco/arz093] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Numerous studies have observed kin-biased social associations in a variety of species. Many of these studies have focused on species exhibiting parental care, which may facilitate the transmission of the social environment from parents to offspring. This becomes problematic when disentangling whether kin-biased associations are driven by kin recognition, or are a product of transmission of the social environment during ontogeny, or a combination of both. Studying kin-biased associations in systems that lack parental care may aid in addressing this issue. Furthermore, when studying kin-biased social associations, it is important to differentiate whether these originate from preferential choice or occur randomly as a result of habitat use or limited dispersal. Here, we combined high-resolution single-nucleotide polymorphism data with a long-term behavioral data set of a reptile with no parental care to demonstrate that eastern water dragons (Intellagama lesueurii) bias their nonrandom social associations toward their kin. In particular, we found that although the overall social network was not linked to genetic relatedness, individuals associated with kin more than expected given availability in space and also biased social preferences toward kin. This result opens important opportunities for the study of kinship-driven associations without the confounding effect of vertical transmission of social environments. Furthermore, we present a robust multiple-step approach for determining whether kin-biased social associations are a result of active social decisions or random encounters resulting from habitat use and dispersal patterns.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carme Piza-Roca
- Global Change Ecology Research Group, University of the Sunshine Coast, Sippy Downs, QLD, Australia
| | - Kasha Strickland
- Global Change Ecology Research Group, University of the Sunshine Coast, Sippy Downs, QLD, Australia
| | - Nicola Kent
- Global Change Ecology Research Group, University of the Sunshine Coast, Sippy Downs, QLD, Australia
| | - Celine H Frere
- Global Change Ecology Research Group, University of the Sunshine Coast, Sippy Downs, QLD, Australia
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24
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Morton FB, Altschul D. Data reduction analyses of animal behaviour: avoiding Kaiser's criterion and adopting more robust automated methods. Anim Behav 2019. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2019.01.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
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25
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Aureli F, Schino G. Social complexity from within: how individuals experience the structure and organization of their groups. Behav Ecol Sociobiol 2019. [DOI: 10.1007/s00265-018-2604-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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26
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Boucherie PH, Loretto MC, Massen JJM, Bugnyar T. What constitutes "social complexity" and "social intelligence" in birds? Lessons from ravens. Behav Ecol Sociobiol 2019; 73:12. [PMID: 30930524 PMCID: PMC6404394 DOI: 10.1007/s00265-018-2607-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2018] [Revised: 07/10/2018] [Accepted: 11/12/2018] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
In the last decades, the assumption that complex social life is cognitively challenging, and thus can drive mental evolution, has received much support from empirical studies in nonhuman primates. While extending the scope to other mammals and birds, different views have been adopted on what constitutes social complexity and which specific cognitive skills are selected for. Notably, many avian species form "open" groups as non-breeders (i.e., seasonally and before sexual maturity) that have been largely ignored as potential sources of social complexity. Reviewing 30 years of research on ravens, we illustrate the socio-ecological conditions faced by these birds as non-breeders and discuss how these relate to their socio-cognitive skills. We argue that the non-breeding period is key to understand raven social life and, to a larger extent, avian social life in general. We furthermore emphasize how the combination of the large-scale perspective (defining social system components: e.g., social organization, mating system) and the individual-scale perspective on social systems allows to better capture the complete set of social challenges experienced by individuals throughout their life, ultimately resulting on a more comprehensive understanding of species' social complexity.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Matthias-Claudio Loretto
- Department of Cognitive Biology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- Konrad Lorenz Forschungsstelle, Core Facility for Behaviour and Cognition, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Jorg J. M. Massen
- Department of Cognitive Biology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Thomas Bugnyar
- Department of Cognitive Biology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- Konrad Lorenz Forschungsstelle, Core Facility for Behaviour and Cognition, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
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27
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Liévin-Bazin A, Pineaux M, Clerc O, Gahr M, von Bayern AMP, Bovet D. Emotional responses to conspecific distress calls are modulated by affiliation in cockatiels (Nymphicus hollandicus). PLoS One 2018; 13:e0205314. [PMID: 30300404 PMCID: PMC6177178 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0205314] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2017] [Accepted: 09/24/2018] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Vocal communication is used across the animal kingdom to transfer information from emitters to receivers, such as size, sex, age, dominance status or even emotional states. The transmission of an emotional state from one individual to another is called "emotional contagion" and is classified as the first level of empathy. Emotional contagion is thought to be stronger between familiar individuals. While affiliation represents a stronger relation between individuals than mere familiarity, it remains understudied whether affiliation modulates emotional reactions as well. Using cockatiels (Nymphicus hollandicus), we played back three types of audio stimuli to individual birds: a partner's distress call (emitted when birds are caught or forcibly restrained), a non-partner's distress call, and a control sound (white noise). The calls were recorded from familiar birds with either low (non-partners) or high levels of affiliation (partners). The subjects' response was scored using four behavioural parameters: the time spent near the loudspeaker, the amount of movements, the number of calls emitted, and the position of the crest. Across all variables, birds were more attentive and active when confronted to distress calls compared to control sounds, particularly when the distress call was emitted from a partner rather than a non-partner. These results raise the possibility that distress calls do not only function as a stimulus-triggering automatic reaction in cockatiels but also transmit emotions. Moreover, affiliation enhanced emotional reactions to conspecific distress calls. Our data provides first insights into the mechanisms of emotional contagion in parrots.
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Affiliation(s)
- Agatha Liévin-Bazin
- Laboratoire Éthologie Cognition Développement, EA, Université Paris Nanterre, Nanterre, France
- * E-mail:
| | - Maxime Pineaux
- Laboratoire Évolution et Diversité Biologique, UMR 5174, Université Toulouse III Paul Sabatier, Toulouse, France
| | - Olivier Clerc
- Laboratoire Éthologie Cognition Développement, EA, Université Paris Nanterre, Nanterre, France
| | - Manfred Gahr
- Department of Behavioural Ecology and Evolutionary Genetics, Max Planck Institute for Ornithology, Seewiesen, Germany
| | - Auguste M. P. von Bayern
- Department of Behavioural Ecology and Evolutionary Genetics, Max Planck Institute for Ornithology, Seewiesen, Germany
| | - Dalila Bovet
- Laboratoire Éthologie Cognition Développement, EA, Université Paris Nanterre, Nanterre, France
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28
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Using multiplex networks to capture the multidimensional nature of social structure. Primates 2018; 60:277-295. [DOI: 10.1007/s10329-018-0686-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2018] [Accepted: 09/03/2018] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
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29
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Szipl G, Ringler E, Bugnyar T. Attacked ravens flexibly adjust signalling behaviour according to audience composition. Proc Biol Sci 2018; 285:20180375. [PMID: 29875298 PMCID: PMC6015854 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2018.0375] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2018] [Accepted: 05/16/2018] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
A fundamental attribute of social intelligence is the ability to monitor third-party relationships, which has been repeatedly demonstrated in primates, and recently also in captive ravens. It is yet unknown how ravens make use of this ability when dealing with different types of social relationships simultaneously during complex real-life situations. Free-ranging non-breeder ravens live in societies characterized by high fission-fusion dynamics and structured by age, pair-bond status and kinship. Here, we show that free-ranging ravens modify communication during conflicts according to audience composition. When being attacked by dominant conspecifics, victims of aggression signal their distress via defensive calls. Victims increased call rates when their kin were in the bystander audience, but reduced call rates when the bystanders were bonding partners of their aggressors. Hence, ravens use social knowledge flexibly and probably based on their own need (i.e. alert nearby allies and avoid alerting nearby rivals).
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Affiliation(s)
- Georgine Szipl
- Department of Cognitive Biology, University of Vienna, Althanstrasse 14, A-1090 Vienna, Austria
- Konrad Lorenz Research Station, Core Facility, University of Vienna, Fischerau 11, A-4645 Gruenau, Austria
| | - Eva Ringler
- Department of Integrative Zoology, University of Vienna, Althanstrasse 14, A-1090 Vienna, Austria
- Messerli Research Institute, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Medical University of Vienna, and University of Vienna, Veterinaerplatz 1, A-1210 Vienna, Austria
| | - Thomas Bugnyar
- Department of Cognitive Biology, University of Vienna, Althanstrasse 14, A-1090 Vienna, Austria
- Konrad Lorenz Research Station, Core Facility, University of Vienna, Fischerau 11, A-4645 Gruenau, Austria
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30
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Within-group relationships and lack of social enhancement during object manipulation in captive Goffin's cockatoos (Cacatua goffiniana). Learn Behav 2018; 45:7-19. [PMID: 27406172 PMCID: PMC5325860 DOI: 10.3758/s13420-016-0235-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Different types of social relationships can influence individual learning strategies in structured groups of animals. Studies on a number of avian species have suggested that local and/or stimulus enhancement are important ingredients of the respective species’ exploration modes. Our aim was to identify the role of enhancement during object manipulation in different social contexts. We used focal observations to identify a linear dominance hierarchy as well as affiliative relationships between individuals in a group of 14 Goffin’s cockatoos (Cacatua goffiniana, formerly goffini). Thereafter, in an unrewarded object choice task, several pairs of subjects were tested for a possible influence of social enhancement (local vs. stimulus) in three conditions: dominance, affiliation, and kinship. Our results suggest strong individual biases. Whereas previous studies on ravens and kea had indicated that enhancement in a non-food-related task was influenced by the social relationship between a demonstrator and an observer (affiliated – nonaffiliated), we found no such effects in our study group. In this context, Goffin’s cockatoos’ object learning seems to take place more on an individual level, despite their generally high motivation to manipulate nonfood items.
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31
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Boeckle M, Szipl G, Bugnyar T. Raven food calls indicate sender's age and sex. Front Zool 2018; 15:5. [PMID: 29563949 PMCID: PMC5848575 DOI: 10.1186/s12983-018-0255-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2017] [Accepted: 02/06/2018] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Acoustic parameters of animal signals have been shown to correlate with various phenotypic characteristics of the sender. These acoustic characteristics can be learned and categorized and thus are a basis for perceivers’ recognition abilities. One of the most demanding capacities is individual recognition, achievable only after repeated interactions with the same individual. Still, class-level recognition might be potentially important to perceivers who have not previously encountered callers but can classify unknown individuals according to the already learned categories. Especially for species with high fission-fusion dynamics that repeatedly encounter unknown individuals it may be advantageous to develop class-level recognition. We tested whether frequency-, temporal-, and amplitude-related acoustic parameters of vocalizations emitted by ravens, a species showing high fission-fusion dynamics in non-breeder aggregations, are connected to phenotypic characteristics and thus have the potential for class-level recognition. Results The analysis of 418 food calls revealed that some components summarizing acoustic parameters were differentiated by age-classes and sex. Conclusions Together, the results provide evidence for the co-variation of vocal characteristics and respective sex and age categories, a prerequisite for class-level recognition in perceivers. Perceivers that are ignorant of the caller’s identity can thus potentially recognize these class-level differences for decision-making processes in feeding contexts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Markus Boeckle
- 1Department of Cognitive Biology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.,2Konrad Lorenz Forschungsstelle, Core Facility, University of Vienna, Gruenau im Almtal, Austria.,3Department of Psychology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Georgine Szipl
- 1Department of Cognitive Biology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.,2Konrad Lorenz Forschungsstelle, Core Facility, University of Vienna, Gruenau im Almtal, Austria
| | - Thomas Bugnyar
- 1Department of Cognitive Biology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.,2Konrad Lorenz Forschungsstelle, Core Facility, University of Vienna, Gruenau im Almtal, Austria
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32
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Szipl G, Ringler E, Spreafico M, Bugnyar T. Calls during agonistic interactions vary with arousal and raise audience attention in ravens. Front Zool 2017; 14:57. [PMID: 29299036 PMCID: PMC5740903 DOI: 10.1186/s12983-017-0244-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2017] [Accepted: 11/27/2017] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Acoustic properties of vocalizations can vary with the internal state of the caller, and may serve as reliable indicators for a caller's emotional state, for example to prevent conflicts. Thus, individuals may associate distinct characteristics in acoustic signals of conspecifics with specific social contexts, and adjust their behaviour accordingly to prevent escalation of conflicts. Common ravens (Corvus corax) crowd-forage with individuals of different age classes, sex, and rank, assemble at feeding sites, and engage in agonistic interactions of varying intensity. Attacked individuals frequently utter defensive calls in order to appease the aggressor. Here, we investigated if acoustic properties of defensive calls change with varying levels of aggression, and if bystanders respond to these changes. RESULTS Individuals were more likely to utter defensive calls when the attack involved contact aggression, and when the attacker was higher in rank than the victim. Defensive calls produced during intense conflicts were longer and uttered at higher rates, and showed higher fundamental frequency- and amplitude-related measures than calls uttered during low-intensity aggression, indicating arousal-based changes in defensive calls. Playback experiments showed that ravens were more likely to react in response to defensive calls with higher fundamental frequency by orientating towards the speakers as compared to original calls and calls manipulated in duration. CONCLUSIONS Arousal-based changes are encoded in acoustic parameters of defensive calls in attacked ravens, and bystanders in the audience pay attention to the degree of arousal in attacked conspecifics. Our findings imply that common ravens can regulate conflicts with conspecifics by means of vocalizations, and are able to gather social knowledge from conspecific calls.
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Affiliation(s)
- Georgine Szipl
- Department of Cognitive Biology, University of Vienna, Althanstrasse 14, A-1090 Vienna, Austria
- Core Facility Konrad Lorenz Research Station for Behaviour and Cognition, University of Vienna, Fischerau 11, A-4645 Gruenau im Almtal, Austria
| | - Eva Ringler
- Messerli Research Institute, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Medical University of Vienna, and University of Vienna, Veterinaerplatz 1, A-1210 Vienna, Austria
- Department of Integrative Zoology, University of Vienna, Althanstrasse 14, A-1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Michela Spreafico
- Department of Cognitive Biology, University of Vienna, Althanstrasse 14, A-1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Thomas Bugnyar
- Department of Cognitive Biology, University of Vienna, Althanstrasse 14, A-1090 Vienna, Austria
- Core Facility Konrad Lorenz Research Station for Behaviour and Cognition, University of Vienna, Fischerau 11, A-4645 Gruenau im Almtal, Austria
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33
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Sima MJ, Matzinger T, Bugnyar T, Pika S. Reconciliation and third-party affiliation in carrion crows. Ethology 2017. [DOI: 10.1111/eth.12699] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Miriam Jennifer Sima
- Humboldt Research Group “Evolution of Communication”; Max Planck Institute for Ornithology; Seewiesen Germany
| | - Theresa Matzinger
- Department of Cognitive Biology; University of Vienna; Vienna Austria
| | - Thomas Bugnyar
- Department of Cognitive Biology; University of Vienna; Vienna Austria
- Haidlhof Research Station; University of Vienna and University of Veterinary Medicine; Vienna Austria
| | - Simone Pika
- Humboldt Research Group “Evolution of Communication”; Max Planck Institute for Ornithology; Seewiesen Germany
- Humboldt Research Group; Department of Linguistic and Cultural Evolution; Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History; Jena Germany
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34
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Rose PE, Croft DP. Social bonds in a flock bird: Species differences and seasonality in social structure in captive flamingo flocks over a 12-month period. Appl Anim Behav Sci 2017. [DOI: 10.1016/j.applanim.2017.03.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
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35
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Busia L, Schaffner CM, Aureli F. Relationship quality affects fission decisions in wild spider monkeys (Ateles geoffroyi). Ethology 2017. [DOI: 10.1111/eth.12609] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Laura Busia
- Instituto de Neuroetologia; Universidad Veracruzana; Xalapa Veracruz Mexico
| | | | - Filippo Aureli
- Instituto de Neuroetologia; Universidad Veracruzana; Xalapa Veracruz Mexico
- Research Centre in Evolutionary Anthropology and Palaeoecology; Liverpool John Moores University; Liverpool UK
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36
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Loretto MC, Schuster R, Itty C, Marchand P, Genero F, Bugnyar T. Fission-fusion dynamics over large distances in raven non-breeders. Sci Rep 2017; 7:380. [PMID: 28336913 PMCID: PMC5428508 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-00404-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2016] [Accepted: 02/27/2017] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The influence of fission-fusion dynamics, i.e., temporal variation in group size and composition, on social complexity has been studied in large-brained mammals that rely on social bonds. Little is known about birds, even though some species like ravens have recently received attention for their socio-cognitive skills and use of social bonds. While raven breeders defend territories year-round, non-breeders roam through large areas and form groups at food sources or night roosts. We here examined the fission-fusion patterns of non-breeding ravens over years, investigating whether birds meet repeatedly either at the same or at different locations. We combined four large datasets: presence-absence observations from two study sites (Austria, Italy) and GPS-tracking of ravens across two study areas (Austria, France). As expected, we found a highly dynamic system in which individuals with long phases of temporary settlement had a high probability of meeting others. Although GPS-tagged ravens spread out over thousands of square kilometres, we found repeated associations between almost half of the possible combinations at different locations. Such a system makes repeated interactions between individuals at different sites possible and likely. High fission-fusion dynamics may thus not hinder but shape the social complexity of ravens and, possibly, other long-term bonded birds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthias-Claudio Loretto
- Department of Cognitive Biology, University of Vienna, Althanstrasse 14, A-1090, Vienna, Austria.
- Konrad Lorenz Forschungsstelle, Core Facility for Behaviour and Cognition, University of Vienna, Fischerau 11, A-4645, Grünau im Almtal, Austria.
| | - Richard Schuster
- Department of Forest and Conservation Sciences, University of British Columbia, 3041 - 2424 Main Mall, Vancouver, B.C., V6T 1Z4, Canada
- Department of Biology, 1125 Colonel By Drive, Carleton University, Ottawa, K1S 5B6, Canada
| | - Christian Itty
- Office National de la Chasse et de Faune sauvage, Délégation Régionale Occitanie, Actisud Bâtiment 12, 18 rue Jean Perrin, F-31100, Toulouse, France
| | - Pascal Marchand
- Office National de la Chasse et de Faune sauvage, Délégation Régionale Occitanie, Actisud Bâtiment 12, 18 rue Jean Perrin, F-31100, Toulouse, France
| | - Fulvio Genero
- Riserva naturale regionale del Lago di Cornino, I-33030 Forgaria nel Friuli, Udine, Italy
| | - Thomas Bugnyar
- Department of Cognitive Biology, University of Vienna, Althanstrasse 14, A-1090, Vienna, Austria
- Konrad Lorenz Forschungsstelle, Core Facility for Behaviour and Cognition, University of Vienna, Fischerau 11, A-4645, Grünau im Almtal, Austria
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37
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Munteanu AM, Stocker M, Stöwe M, Massen JJM, Bugnyar T. Behavioural and Hormonal Stress Responses to Social Separation in Ravens, Corvus corax. Ethology 2017; 123:123-135. [PMID: 28239221 PMCID: PMC5299477 DOI: 10.1111/eth.12580] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2016] [Revised: 09/26/2016] [Accepted: 10/29/2016] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Social life is profitable, but it facilitates conflicts over resources and creates interdependence between individuals. Separating highly social animals triggers intense reactions aimed at re-establishing lost connections. Less is known, however, about behavioural and physiological responses to separation in socially facultative species, where individuals temporarily form groups and may subsequently leave them. Non-breeding common ravens (Corvus corax) gather in large numbers at feeding and roosting sites, but otherwise spend time seemingly solitary or in small subgroups. We here studied how ravens cope with being socially isolated, and investigated the life characteristics that might explain potential individual differences. For this, we individually separated captive subadult ravens (n = 25) and housed them in physical and visual isolation from their group members across 4 d. During the separation period, we collected behavioural data and measured the amount of immunoreactive corticosterone metabolites from bird droppings to assess the ravens' physiological stress response. We found behavioural indicators of stress at the start of the separation, when ravens showed higher levels of tension than of comfort - a pattern that reversed at the end of the separation. Furthermore, we found that the upbringing of ravens affected their behaviour during separation. Hand-raised birds produced more vocalisations in the beginning of the separation, and were less active at the end, while the reverse pattern occurred with parent-raised ravens. Contrary to our predictions, we did not find differences in hormonal responses between the beginning and end of the separation period or any link between hormonal responses and behaviours. Ravens' behavioural responses to social separation stress seem to be dependent on their arousal states, although possible links with hormonal reactions remain unclear. Our results show that behavioural reactions are not always linked with hormonal responses to stress, and further emphasise the importance of investigating effects of early-life experiences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandru M. Munteanu
- Department of Cognitive BiologyUniversity of ViennaViennaAustria
- Haidlhof Research StationUniversity of Vienna and University of Veterinary Medicine ViennaBad VöslauAustria
| | - Martina Stocker
- Department of Cognitive BiologyUniversity of ViennaViennaAustria
- Haidlhof Research StationUniversity of Vienna and University of Veterinary Medicine ViennaBad VöslauAustria
| | - Mareike Stöwe
- Department of Biomedical SciencesUnit of Physiology, Pathophysiology and Experimental EndocrinologyUniversity of Veterinary Medicine ViennaViennaAustria
| | - Jorg J. M. Massen
- Department of Cognitive BiologyUniversity of ViennaViennaAustria
- Haidlhof Research StationUniversity of Vienna and University of Veterinary Medicine ViennaBad VöslauAustria
| | - Thomas Bugnyar
- Department of Cognitive BiologyUniversity of ViennaViennaAustria
- Haidlhof Research StationUniversity of Vienna and University of Veterinary Medicine ViennaBad VöslauAustria
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38
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Scheiber IBR, Weiß BM, Kingma SA, Komdeur J. The importance of the altricial - precocial spectrum for social complexity in mammals and birds - a review. Front Zool 2017; 14:3. [PMID: 28115975 PMCID: PMC5242088 DOI: 10.1186/s12983-016-0185-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2016] [Accepted: 12/08/2016] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Various types of long-term stable relationships that individuals uphold, including cooperation and competition between group members, define social complexity in vertebrates. Numerous life history, physiological and cognitive traits have been shown to affect, or to be affected by, such social relationships. As such, differences in developmental modes, i.e. the ‘altricial-precocial’ spectrum, may play an important role in understanding the interspecific variation in occurrence of social interactions, but to what extent this is the case is unclear because the role of the developmental mode has not been studied directly in across-species studies of sociality. In other words, although there are studies on the effects of developmental mode on brain size, on the effects of brain size on cognition, and on the effects of cognition on social complexity, there are no studies directly investigating the link between developmental mode and social complexity. This is surprising because developmental differences play a significant role in the evolution of, for example, brain size, which is in turn considered an essential building block with respect to social complexity. Here, we compiled an overview of studies on various aspects of the complexity of social systems in altricial and precocial mammals and birds. Although systematic studies are scarce and do not allow for a quantitative comparison, we show that several forms of social relationships and cognitive abilities occur in species along the entire developmental spectrum. Based on the existing evidence it seems that differences in developmental modes play a minor role in whether or not individuals or species are able to meet the cognitive capabilities and requirements for maintaining complex social relationships. Given the scarcity of comparative studies and potential subtle differences, however, we suggest that future studies should consider developmental differences to determine whether our finding is general or whether some of the vast variation in social complexity across species can be explained by developmental mode. This would allow a more detailed assessment of the relative importance of developmental mode in the evolution of vertebrate social systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabella B R Scheiber
- The University of Groningen, Behavioural and Physiological Ecology, Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences (GELIFES), Nijenborgh 7, 9747 AG Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Brigitte M Weiß
- Behavioural Ecology Research Group, University of Leipzig, Faculty of Bioscience, Pharmacy and Psychology, Institute of Biology, Talstraße 33, 04103 Leipzig, Germany.,Department of Primatology, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Deutscher Platz 6, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Sjouke A Kingma
- The University of Groningen, Behavioural and Physiological Ecology, Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences (GELIFES), Nijenborgh 7, 9747 AG Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Jan Komdeur
- The University of Groningen, Behavioural and Physiological Ecology, Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences (GELIFES), Nijenborgh 7, 9747 AG Groningen, The Netherlands
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Harvey BS, Dudzinski KM, Kuczaj SA. Associations and the role of affiliative, agonistic, and socio-sexual behaviors among common bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus). Behav Processes 2016; 135:145-156. [PMID: 28017847 DOI: 10.1016/j.beproc.2016.12.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2016] [Revised: 08/05/2016] [Accepted: 12/21/2016] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Little is known about the specific behavioral exchanges that occur on a day-to-day basis between dyads of common bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus). This study assesses the proportion of time dyads spend in proximity (within ∼2m) and the proportion of time spent in affiliative, agonistic, or socio-sexual contexts within and between age/sex dolphin pairings to better understand their social relationships. Observations of bottlenose dolphins housed at the Roatan Institute of Marine Sciences provided 10.5h of underwater footage from which to examine association coefficients and inter-individual interactions. These data suggest similar patterns to previous studies on bottlenose dolphins: mother-calf dyads shared the highest coefficients of association, followed by male-male, female-female, and male-female dyads. Four classes of association coefficients were defined for the population including low, medium, medium-high and high. This study is the first to quantitatively assess association patterns concurrently with affiliative, agonistic, and socio-sexual behaviors for bottlenose dolphins. The predominant relationships were affiliative.
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Affiliation(s)
- Briana Seay Harvey
- Department of Psychology, University of Southern Mississippi, 118 College Dr. Hattiesburg, MS, 39406 USA.
| | - Kathleen Maria Dudzinski
- Department of Psychology, University of Southern Mississippi, 118 College Dr. Hattiesburg, MS, 39406 USA; Dolphin Communication Project, P.O. Box 7485, Port St. Lucie, FL, 34985, USA
| | - Stan Abraham Kuczaj
- Department of Psychology, University of Southern Mississippi, 118 College Dr. Hattiesburg, MS, 39406 USA
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Marshall AR, Deere NJ, Little HA, Snipp R, Goulder J, Mayer-Clarke S. Husbandry and enclosure influences on penguin behavior and conservation breeding. Zoo Biol 2016; 35:385-397. [PMID: 27486862 DOI: 10.1002/zoo.21313] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2014] [Revised: 07/05/2016] [Accepted: 07/19/2016] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Multi-zoo comparisons of animal welfare are rare, and yet vital for ensuring continued improvement of zoo enclosures and husbandry. Methods are not standardized for the development of zoo enclosures based on multiple indicators, and case study species are required. This study compares behavior and breeding success to various enclosure and husbandry parameters for the Humboldt penguin, Spheniscus humboldti, for the development of improved enclosure design. Behavioral sampling was completed at Flamingo Land over a period of 8 months. Further data on behavior, enclosure design, and breeding success were collected via questionnaires, visits to zoos, and literature review. Breeding success was primarily influenced by colony age and number of breeding pairs, suggesting an important social influence on reproduction. Across zoos, there was also significant variation in behavior. The proportion of time spent in water varied between zoos (2-23%) and was used as an indicator of physical activity and natural behavior. Regression models revealed that water-use was best predicted by total enclosure area per penguin, followed by land area, with some evidence for positive influence of pool surface area per penguin. Predominantly linear/curvilinear increases in our biological indicators with enclosure parameters suggest that optimal conditions for S. humboldti were not met among the selected zoos. We propose revised minimum conditions for S. humboldti enclosure design, which exceed those in the existing husbandry guidelines. We present a framework for the evaluation of zoo enclosures and suggest that a rigorous scientific protocol be established for the design of new enclosures, based on multivariate methods. Zoo Biol. 35:385-397, 2016. © Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew R Marshall
- Department of Environment, Centre for Integrated Research, Conservation and Learning (CIRCLE), University of York, Wentworth Way, York, United Kingdom. .,Flamingo Land Ltd., Kirby Misperton, North Yorkshire, United Kingdom.
| | - Nicolas J Deere
- Department of Environment, Centre for Integrated Research, Conservation and Learning (CIRCLE), University of York, Wentworth Way, York, United Kingdom.,Flamingo Land Ltd., Kirby Misperton, North Yorkshire, United Kingdom.,Durrell Institute of Conservation and Ecology, School of Anthropology and Conservation, University of Kent, Canterbury, Kent, United Kingdom
| | - Holly A Little
- Department of Environment, Centre for Integrated Research, Conservation and Learning (CIRCLE), University of York, Wentworth Way, York, United Kingdom.,Flamingo Land Ltd., Kirby Misperton, North Yorkshire, United Kingdom.,Department of Animal and Plant Sciences, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom
| | - Ross Snipp
- Department of Environment, Centre for Integrated Research, Conservation and Learning (CIRCLE), University of York, Wentworth Way, York, United Kingdom.,Flamingo Land Ltd., Kirby Misperton, North Yorkshire, United Kingdom
| | - Jackie Goulder
- Department of Environment, Centre for Integrated Research, Conservation and Learning (CIRCLE), University of York, Wentworth Way, York, United Kingdom
| | - Stacey Mayer-Clarke
- Department of Environment, Centre for Integrated Research, Conservation and Learning (CIRCLE), University of York, Wentworth Way, York, United Kingdom.,Flamingo Land Ltd., Kirby Misperton, North Yorkshire, United Kingdom
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Kulahci IG, Rubenstein DI, Bugnyar T, Hoppitt W, Mikus N, Schwab C. Social networks predict selective observation and information spread in ravens. ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE 2016; 3:160256. [PMID: 27493780 PMCID: PMC4968472 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.160256] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2016] [Accepted: 06/15/2016] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
Animals are predicted to selectively observe and learn from the conspecifics with whom they share social connections. Yet, hardly anything is known about the role of different connections in observation and learning. To address the relationships between social connections, observation and learning, we investigated transmission of information in two raven (Corvus corax) groups. First, we quantified social connections in each group by constructing networks on affiliative interactions, aggressive interactions and proximity. We then seeded novel information by training one group member on a novel task and allowing others to observe. In each group, an observation network based on who observed whose task-solving behaviour was strongly correlated with networks based on affiliative interactions and proximity. Ravens with high social centrality (strength, eigenvector, information centrality) in the affiliative interaction network were also central in the observation network, possibly as a result of solving the task sooner. Network-based diffusion analysis revealed that the order that ravens first solved the task was best predicted by connections in the affiliative interaction network in a group of subadult ravens, and by social rank and kinship (which influenced affiliative interactions) in a group of juvenile ravens. Our results demonstrate that not all social connections are equally effective at predicting the patterns of selective observation and information transmission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ipek G. Kulahci
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA
| | - Daniel I. Rubenstein
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA
| | - Thomas Bugnyar
- Department of Cognitive Biology, University of Vienna, Althanstrasse 14, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | | | - Nace Mikus
- Department of Cognitive Biology, University of Vienna, Althanstrasse 14, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Christine Schwab
- Department of Cognitive Biology, University of Vienna, Althanstrasse 14, 1090 Vienna, Austria
- Messerli Research Institute, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Medical University of Vienna and University of Vienna, 1210 Vienna, Austria
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Asakawa-Haas K, Schiestl M, Bugnyar T, Massen JJM. Partner Choice in Raven (Corvus corax) Cooperation. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0156962. [PMID: 27286247 PMCID: PMC4902252 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0156962] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2016] [Accepted: 05/22/2016] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Although social animals frequently make decisions about when or with whom to cooperate, little is known about the underlying mechanisms of partner choice. Most previous studies compared different dyads’ performances, though did not allow an actual choice among partners. We tested eleven ravens, Corvus corax, in triads, giving them first the choice to cooperate with either a highly familiar or a rather unfamiliar partner and, second, with either a friend or a non-friend using a cooperative string-pulling task. In either test, the ravens had a second choice and could cooperate with the other partner, given that this one had not pulled the string in the meantime. We show that during the experiments, these partner ravens indeed learn to wait and inhibit pulling, respectively. Moreover, the results of these two experiments show that ravens’ preferences for a specific cooperation partner are not based on familiarity. In contrast, the ravens did show a preference based on relationship quality, as they did choose to cooperate significantly more with friends than with non-friends and they were also more proficient when cooperating with a friend. In order to further identify the proximate mechanism of this preference, we designed an open-choice experiment for the whole group where all birds were free to cooperate on two separate apparatuses. This set-up allowed us to distinguish between preferences for close proximity and preferences to cooperate. The results revealed that friends preferred staying close to each other, but did not necessarily cooperate with one another, suggesting that tolerance of proximity and not relationship quality as a whole may be the driving force behind partner choice in raven cooperation. Consequently, we stress the importance of experiments that allow such titrations and, suggest that these results have important implications for the interpretations of cooperation studies that did not include open partner choice.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Martina Schiestl
- Department of Cognitive Biology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- Haidlhof Research Station, University of Vienna and University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Bad Vöslau, Austria
| | - Thomas Bugnyar
- Department of Cognitive Biology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- Haidlhof Research Station, University of Vienna and University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Bad Vöslau, Austria
| | - Jorg J. M. Massen
- Department of Cognitive Biology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- * E-mail:
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Miller R, Laskowski KL, Schiestl M, Bugnyar T, Schwab C. Socially Driven Consistent Behavioural Differences during Development in Common Ravens and Carrion Crows. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0148822. [PMID: 26848954 PMCID: PMC4746062 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0148822] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2015] [Accepted: 01/21/2016] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Consistent individual differences in behaviour, or 'personality', are likely to be influenced by development, social context, and species ecology, though few comparative, longitudinal studies exist. Here, we investigated the role of development and social context on personality variation in two identically reared, social corvids: common ravens and carrion crows. We repeatedly presented subjects with a variety of novel food and objects, while alone and in a primarily sibling subgroup, from fledging to sub-adulthood. We predicted that consistent individual differences would emerge later in development, and that conspecific presence would facilitate behavioural similarities. In contrast to our predictions, we found that individuals of both species were highly inconsistent in their behavioural responses throughout the development period. In line with our predictions, though in the ravens only, conspecific presence promoted behavioural similarities as individuals were strongly shaped by their subgroup, and it is likely that these effects were driven by social context rather than relatedness. We discuss these findings in relation to developmental steps and the role of social relations in these species. Overall, our findings highlight that these two species are highly adaptable in their behaviour, and the ravens in particular are strongly influenced by their social environment, which may facilitate cooperation and social learning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachael Miller
- Department of Cognitive Biology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- Haidlhof Research Station, University of Vienna and University of Veterinary Medicine, Bad Vöslau, Austria
| | - Kate L. Laskowski
- Department of Biology and Ecology of Fishes, Leibniz Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries, Berlin, Germany
| | - Martina Schiestl
- Department of Cognitive Biology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- Haidlhof Research Station, University of Vienna and University of Veterinary Medicine, Bad Vöslau, Austria
| | - Thomas Bugnyar
- Department of Cognitive Biology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- Haidlhof Research Station, University of Vienna and University of Veterinary Medicine, Bad Vöslau, Austria
| | - Christine Schwab
- Department of Cognitive Biology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- Messerli Research Institute, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Medical University of Vienna and University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
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Sima MJ, Pika S, Bugnyar T. Experimental Manipulation of Food Accessibility Affects Conflict Management Behaviour in Ravens. Ethology 2016. [DOI: 10.1111/eth.12451] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Miriam Jennifer Sima
- Department of Cognitive Biology; University of Vienna; Vienna Austria
- Max Planck Institute for Ornithology; Humboldt Research Group “Comparative Gestural Signalling”; Seewiesen Germany
| | - Simone Pika
- Max Planck Institute for Ornithology; Humboldt Research Group “Comparative Gestural Signalling”; Seewiesen Germany
| | - Thomas Bugnyar
- Department of Cognitive Biology; University of Vienna; Vienna Austria
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Ikkatai Y, Watanabe S, Izawa EI. Reconciliation and third-party affiliation in pair-bond budgerigars (Melopsittacus undulatus). BEHAVIOUR 2016. [DOI: 10.1163/1568539x-00003388] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Some group-living animals show conciliatory tendencies towards specific group members after conflicts, referred to as post-conflict affiliation (PC-affiliation). PC-affiliation with a former opponent and a third-party bystander is classified as ‘reconciliation’ and ‘third-party affiliation’, respectively. PC-affiliation is assumed to be mediated by high-quality social relationships between individuals. Recently, studies assessing lifelong monogamous birds, such as corvids, have found PC-affiliation as a case of convergent evolution with regard to primates. Nevertheless, PC-affiliation divergence in birds is still poorly understood. Here, we report that pair-bonds of budgerigars, a lifelong-monogamous small parrot, engage in both reconciliation and third-party affiliation. We also found that males initiated both types of PC-affiliation more often than females. However, during reconciliation, this skewed affiliation pattern was unlikely specific to the PC-context but could also stem from sex differences in basic social-behavioural features (i.e., female dominance over males and males’ primary role in initiating affiliation with females), which are common outside the PC-context. Conversely, the third-party PC-affiliation pattern was significantly different from the basic affiliation pattern: affiliations were initiated more often by combatant winners, by bystander males toward defeated females, and less often by defeated males. These results suggest specific signal and stress reduction functions related to PC-affiliation among budgerigar pair-bonds. The present study supports the view that PC-affiliations, based on high-quality relationships, did not only evolve in mammals but also in birds, with species-specific forms associated with social behavioural tendencies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuko Ikkatai
- Department of Psychology, Keio University, Japan
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Abstract
Dog social behaviour has been well studied, but little is known about affiliative relationships between dogs. We report a yearlong study of dominance and affiliation in 24 dogs at a dog daycare facility and provide additional details on dog relationships through long-term observations of pairs of dogs who lived together in the same household or met frequently for years. Companion dogs formed highly differentiated relationships with one another. At daycare, some dyads affiliated and displayed one-way submission (formal dominance), others affiliated without a dominance relationship (egalitarian), and the majority of dyads did not affiliate at all (agonistic or non-interactive). The dogs in household environments showed formal and egalitarian relationships, and two dyads exchanged two-way agonism without submission (unresolved). Sex influenced the types of relationships dogs formed, with mixed sex dyads more likely to affiliate and less likely to exhibit dominance than same-sex pairs. Dominance influenced the nature of affiliation in relationships; egalitarian dyads were more likely to play and showed more equitable gentle affiliation. Gentle affiliation was reciprocal in the group as a whole, but it was highly skewed in many dyads, especially those with dominance relationships. Gentle affiliation was usually, but not always, directed up the hierarchy. Certain dyads affiliated at much higher rates than others, indicating that the dogs formed friendships. Most friends were mixed sex and/or egalitarian pairs, but friendships occurred in all of the sex class/dominance combinations. Long-term observations demonstrated how dyadic relationships can change over time. Such highly differentiated relationships suggest significant social complexity in dogs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca K. Trisko
- aDepartment of Psychology, University of Michigan, 530 Church Street, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1043, USA
| | - Aaron A. Sandel
- bDepartment of Anthropology, University of Michigan, 1085 S. University Avenue, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Barbara Smuts
- aDepartment of Psychology, University of Michigan, 530 Church Street, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1043, USA
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Busia L, Schaffner CM, Aureli F. Watch out or relax: conspecifics affect vigilance in wild spider monkeys (Ateles geoffroyi). BEHAVIOUR 2016. [DOI: 10.1163/1568539x-00003329] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
In most animal species, predation risk is considered the main factor affecting vigilance, and an individual is expected to spend less time vigilant in larger than in smaller groups. However, vigilance patterns in primates appear to differ, with no consistency in group-size effects. As individuals in highly gregarious species such as diurnal primates face frequent threats from group members, there may be increased vigilance in larger groups to monitor conspecifics rather than or in addition to predators. We tested this hypothesis in wild spider monkeys, which live in communities but fission and fuse in subgroups of variable size and membership throughout the same day. We found no overall effect of subgroup size, as traditionally measured, on vigilance. However, a possible explanation is that vigilance may be effectively shared only with individuals in close proximity, rather than with all subgroup members. We found that a larger number of neighbours (i.e., subgroup members within 5 m) was associated with a lower proportion of time individuals spent vigilant, which is similar to findings in other studies. Another social factor that may affect individuals’ vigilance is the possibility of between-community encounters. Higher levels of vigilance can be expected in areas closer to the boundary of the home range, where between-community encounters are more likely to occur compared with non-boundary areas. We found that location in terms of boundary vs. non-boundary areas had a significant effect on the time individuals spent vigilant in the expected direction. We also found that location modulated the effect of subgroup size on vigilance: only in the boundary areas did larger subgroup sizes result in less individual vigilance time. We concluded that conspecifics affect vigilance of wild spider monkeys in multiple ways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Busia
- Instituto de Neuroetologia, Universidad Veracruzana, Xalapa, Veracruz, Mexico
| | | | - Filippo Aureli
- Instituto de Neuroetologia, Universidad Veracruzana, Xalapa, Veracruz, Mexico
- Research Centre in Evolutionary Anthropology and Palaeoecology, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, UK
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Boucherie PH, Mariette MM, Bret C, Dufour V. Bonding beyond the pair in a monogamous bird: impact on social structure in adult rooks (Corvus frugilegus). BEHAVIOUR 2016. [DOI: 10.1163/1568539x-00003372] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
The formation of social bonds outside the mated pair is not frequently reported in monogamous birds, although it may be expected in some species like rooks, living in groups all year round. Here we explore the social structure of captive adult rooks over three breeding seasons. We recorded proximities and affiliations (i.e., allofeeding, allopreening, contact-sit) to classify relationships according to their strength. Three categories of relationships emerged: primary (i.e., pairs), secondary and weak relationships. Affiliations and sexual behaviours were not restricted to pairs, and secondary relationships were clearly recognizable. Mixed-sex secondary relationships were qualitatively equivalent to pairs (i.e., same behaviours in the same proportions), although they were quantitatively less intense. Same sex pairs occurred, and were qualitatively equivalent to mixed-sex pairs. Overall we found that rooks social structure is more than just an aggregation of pairs, which highlights the importance of considering extra-pair relationships in socially monogamous birds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Palmyre H. Boucherie
- Institut Pluridisciplinaire Hubert Curien, University of Strasbourg, 23 rue Becquerel, 67087 Strasbourg, France
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, UMR 7178, 23 rue Becquerel, 67087 Strasbourg, France
| | - Mylène M. Mariette
- Centre for Integrative Ecology, School of Life & Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, Melbourne, VIC 3216, Australia
| | - Céline Bret
- German Primate Centre, Leibniz-Institut für Primatenforschung, Kellnerweg 4, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Valérie Dufour
- Institut Pluridisciplinaire Hubert Curien, University of Strasbourg, 23 rue Becquerel, 67087 Strasbourg, France
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, UMR 7178, 23 rue Becquerel, 67087 Strasbourg, France
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Tolerance and reward equity predict cooperation in ravens (Corvus corax). Sci Rep 2015; 5:15021. [PMID: 26442633 PMCID: PMC4595729 DOI: 10.1038/srep15021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 74] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2015] [Accepted: 09/16/2015] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Cooperative decision rules have so far been shown experimentally mainly in mammal species that have variable and complex social networks. However, these traits should not necessarily be restricted to mammals. Therefore, we tested cooperative problem solving in ravens. We showed that, without training, nine ravens spontaneously cooperated in a loose-string task. Corroborating findings in several species, ravens’ cooperative success increased with increasing inter-individual tolerance levels. Importantly, we found this in both a forced dyadic setting, and in a group setting where individuals had an open choice to cooperate with whomever. The ravens, moreover, also paid attention to the resulting reward distribution and ceased cooperation when being cheated upon. Nevertheless, the ravens did not seem to pay attention to the behavior of their partners while cooperating, and future research should reveal whether this is task specific or a general pattern. Given their natural propensity to cooperate and the results we present here, we consider ravens as an interesting model species to study the evolution of, and the mechanisms underlying cooperation.
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Carter G, Leffer L. Social Grooming in Bats: Are Vampire Bats Exceptional? PLoS One 2015; 10:e0138430. [PMID: 26445502 PMCID: PMC4596566 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0138430] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2015] [Accepted: 08/30/2015] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Evidence for long-term cooperative relationships comes from several social birds and mammals. Vampire bats demonstrate cooperative social bonds, and like primates, they maintain these bonds through social grooming. It is unclear, however, to what extent vampires are special among bats in this regard. We compared social grooming rates of common vampire bats Desmodus rotundus and four other group-living bats, Artibeus jamaicensis, Carollia perspicillata, Eidolon helvum and Rousettus aegyptiacus, under the same captive conditions of fixed association and no ectoparasites. We conducted 13 focal sampling sessions for each combination of sex and species, for a total of 1560 presence/absence observations per species. We observed evidence for social grooming in all species, but social grooming rates were on average 14 times higher in vampire bats than in other species. Self-grooming rates did not differ. Vampire bats spent 3.7% of their awake time social grooming (95% CI = 1.5-6.3%), whereas bats of the other species spent 0.1-0.5% of their awake time social grooming. Together with past data, this result supports the hypothesis that the elevated social grooming rate in the vampire bat is an adaptive trait, linked to their social bonding and unique regurgitated food sharing behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gerald Carter
- Department of Biology, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Lauren Leffer
- Department of Biology, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, United States of America
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