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Lu Y, Wang X, Wu M, Shi L, Park J. Effects of species vigilance on coexistence in evolutionary dynamics of spatial rock-paper-scissors game. CHAOS (WOODBURY, N.Y.) 2022; 32:093116. [PMID: 36182385 DOI: 10.1063/5.0103247] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2022] [Accepted: 08/15/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Recognizing surrounding situations, such as enemy attacks, which can be realized by predator-prey relationships, is one of the common behaviors of the population in ecosystems. In this paper, we explore the relationship between such species' behavior and biodiversity in the spatial rock-paper-scissors game by employing the ecological concept "vigilance." In order to describe the vigilance process, we adopt a multiplex structure where two distinct layers describe virtual and physical interactions. By investigating the process of evolution in species, we also found that species with different vigilance go together. In addition, by utilizing the dynamic time warping method, we found that species with the same vigilance have consistent behavior, but species with different vigilance have diverse behavior. Our findings may lead to broader interpretations of mechanisms promoting biodiversity via vigilance in species ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yikang Lu
- School of Statistics and Mathematics, Yunnan University of Finance and Economics, Kunming, Yunnan 650221, China
| | - Xiaoyue Wang
- School of Statistics and Mathematics, Yunnan University of Finance and Economics, Kunming, Yunnan 650221, China
| | - Mengjie Wu
- School of Statistics and Mathematics, Yunnan University of Finance and Economics, Kunming, Yunnan 650221, China
| | - Lei Shi
- School of Statistics and Mathematics, Yunnan University of Finance and Economics, Kunming, Yunnan 650221, China
| | - Junpyo Park
- Department of Applied Mathematics, Kyung Hee University, Yongin 17104, Republic of Korea
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2
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Barbary ground squirrels do not have a sentinel system but instead synchronize vigilance. Behav Ecol Sociobiol 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s00265-021-03094-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
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Behavioural synchrony between fallow deer Dama dama is related to spatial proximity. BMC Ecol Evol 2021; 21:79. [PMID: 33957862 PMCID: PMC8101042 DOI: 10.1186/s12862-021-01814-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2021] [Accepted: 04/29/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Animals living in social groups can benefit from conducting the same behaviour as other group members. If this synchronisation is achieved by copying the behaviour of other individuals, we would expect synchrony to be more likely when pairs of individuals are close together. RESULTS By comparing the behaviour of a focal individual with its nearest, second nearest and third nearest neighbour and a control individual, we show that pairings of fallow deer Dama dama are more likely to be active or inactive at the same moment in time if they are closer together. We also demonstrate that synchronisation in the group happens more often than would be expected by chance. CONCLUSIONS Our findings suggest that there is a relationship between the synchronisation of behaviour and the spatial proximity of individuals. Spatial proximity is likely to be an important influence on how likely individuals are to be synchronised, although care needs to be taken to separate social and environmental influences on individual behaviour.
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van Deventer A, Shrader AM. Predation risk and herd position influence the proportional use of antipredator and social vigilance by impala. Anim Behav 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2020.11.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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6
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Pita D, Fernández-Juricic E. Zebrafish Neighbor Distance Changes Relative to Conspecific Size, Position in the Water Column, and the Horizon: A Video-Playback Experiment. Front Ecol Evol 2021. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2020.568752] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Many fish form schools and maintain visual contact with their neighbors in a three-dimensional environment. In this study, we assessed whether zebrafish modified their spacing and interaction time in an additive or multiplicative way relative to multiple sources of social information using computer animations. We simultaneously manipulated: (a) the size of the virtual conspecific (as a proxy of social cue magnitude), (b) the position of the virtual conspecific in the water column (as a proxy of the level of perceived risk), and (c) the absence/presence of the visual horizon (as a proxy of depth perception). We found that the size of the virtual conspecific independently affected spacing behavior (zebrafish increased their separation distance as conspecific size increased). However, some of these factors interacted significantly, such that their effects on social behavior depended on each other. For instance, zebrafish increased their separation distance under high risk conditions when the virtual conspecific was larger, but this risk effect disappeared when the conspecific was the same size or smaller, likely to avoid aggression. Also, zebrafish increased their separation distance when depth perception was enhanced under low risk conditions, but the effect of depth perception disappeared under high risk conditions. Overall, we found that certain dimensions of the visual social environment affected zebrafish spacing behavior in different ways, but they did not affect social interaction time. We discuss the implications of these findings for the spatial organization of fish schools.
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Luo Y, Wang L, Yang L, Wang X, Tian X, Li Z. Unpredictability of vigilance in two sympatric Tibetan ungulates. Ethology 2020. [DOI: 10.1111/eth.13034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Yunchao Luo
- Laboratory of Animal Behavior and Conservation School of Life Sciences Nanjing University Nanjing China
- College of Eco-Environmental Engineering Qinghai University Xining China
| | - Lin Wang
- Laboratory of Animal Behavior and Conservation School of Life Sciences Nanjing University Nanjing China
| | - Le Yang
- Tibet Plateau Institute of Biology Lhasa China
| | - Xinxin Wang
- Laboratory of Animal Behavior and Conservation School of Life Sciences Nanjing University Nanjing China
| | - Xingjun Tian
- Laboratory of Animal Behavior and Conservation School of Life Sciences Nanjing University Nanjing China
- College of Eco-Environmental Engineering Qinghai University Xining China
| | - Zhongqiu Li
- Laboratory of Animal Behavior and Conservation School of Life Sciences Nanjing University Nanjing China
- College of Eco-Environmental Engineering Qinghai University Xining China
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Hume G, Brunton E, Burnett S. Eastern Grey Kangaroo ( Macropus giganteus) Vigilance Behaviour Varies between Human-Modified and Natural Environments. Animals (Basel) 2019; 9:ani9080494. [PMID: 31357618 PMCID: PMC6719249 DOI: 10.3390/ani9080494] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2019] [Revised: 07/18/2019] [Accepted: 07/24/2019] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Urban landscapes are increasing across the globe, causing wildlife to face new challenges and driving behavioural change. Wildlife in these urban landscapes must adapt their behaviour to survive. We investigated vigilance behaviour in urban and non-urban populations of eastern grey kangaroos. We found that the difference in land use alone did not affect their vigilance behaviour, but kangaroos spent more time vigilant in areas of high human population density. Season and sex also influenced the amount of time spent vigilant: more time was spent vigilant in winter and in female kangaroos. This is the first study to compare the vigilance behaviour between urban and non-urban populations of a large mammal across regions, giving the first insight into how kangaroos adapt their behaviour in urban environments. Abstract Rapid increases in urban land use extent across the globe are creating challenges for many wildlife species. Urban landscapes present a novel environment for many species, yet our understanding of wildlife behavioural adaptations to urban environments is still poor. This study compared the vigilance behaviour of a large mammal in response to urbanisation at a landscape level. Here, we investigate urban (n = 12) and non-urban (n = 12) populations of kangaroos in two regions of Australia, and the relationship between kangaroo vigilance and urbanisation. We used a linear modelling approach to determine whether anti-predator vigilance and the number of vigilant acts performed were influenced by land use type (i.e., urban or non-urban), human population densities, kangaroo demographics, and environmental factors. Kangaroo behaviour differed between the two study regions; kangaroo vigilance was higher in urban than non-urban sites in the southern region, which also had the highest human population densities, however no effect of land use was found in the northern region. Season and sex influenced the vigilance levels across both regions, with higher levels seen in winter and female kangaroos. This study is the first to compare urban and non-urban vigilance of large mammals at a landscape level and provide novel insights into behavioural adaptations of large mammals to urban environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Georgina Hume
- University of the Sunshine Coast, 91 Sippy Downs Drive, Sippy Downs, QLD 4556, Australia.
| | - Elizabeth Brunton
- University of the Sunshine Coast, 91 Sippy Downs Drive, Sippy Downs, QLD 4556, Australia.
| | - Scott Burnett
- University of the Sunshine Coast, 91 Sippy Downs Drive, Sippy Downs, QLD 4556, Australia
- Global-Change Ecology Research Group, School of Science and Engineering, University of the Sunshine Coast, Sippy Downs, QLD 4556, Australia
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Vigilance behaviour is more contagious when chewing stops: examining the characteristics of contagious vigilance in bighorn sheep. Behav Ecol Sociobiol 2018. [DOI: 10.1007/s00265-018-2536-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
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11
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Evans MHR, Lihou KL, Rands SA. Black-headed gulls synchronise their activity with their nearest neighbours. Sci Rep 2018; 8:9978. [PMID: 29967446 PMCID: PMC6028586 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-28378-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2018] [Accepted: 06/21/2018] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Animals in groups can benefit from synchronising their behaviour, where multiple individuals conduct similar activities at the same moment in time. Previous studies have demonstrated that some species show synchronisation of vigilance behaviour, but have not explored the mechanism driving this behaviour. Synchronisation could be driven by animals copying their closest neighbours, which would mean that close proximity should lead to increased synchronisation. We simultaneously observed the behaviour of multiple individual black-headed gulls (Chroicocephalus ridibundus) within resting groups, and compared the activity of a focal individual with its two closest neighbours and a randomly selected control individual. Focal individuals were more likely to be synchronised with their closest neighbour. Synchronisation became less likely if individuals were not the closest neighbour. This suggests that synchronisation seen within groups is dependent upon the spatial positions of its members, and black-headed gulls pay more attention to their closest neighbours.
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Affiliation(s)
- Madeleine H R Evans
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, Life Sciences Building, Tyndall Avenue, Bristol, BS8 1TQ, United Kingdom
- Bristol Veterinary School, University of Bristol, Langford House, Langford, North Somerset, BS40 5DU, United Kingdom
| | - Katie L Lihou
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, Life Sciences Building, Tyndall Avenue, Bristol, BS8 1TQ, United Kingdom
- Bristol Veterinary School, University of Bristol, Langford House, Langford, North Somerset, BS40 5DU, United Kingdom
| | - Sean A Rands
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, Life Sciences Building, Tyndall Avenue, Bristol, BS8 1TQ, United Kingdom.
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12
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Doing what your neighbour does: neighbour proximity, familiarity and postural alignment increase behavioural mimicry. Anim Behav 2018. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2017.11.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
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13
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Li Z, Che Y, Yang L. Can sequential vigilance be predicted? Behav Processes 2017; 145:81-85. [PMID: 29080805 DOI: 10.1016/j.beproc.2017.10.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2017] [Revised: 09/14/2017] [Accepted: 10/24/2017] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Sequential randomness is one of the three important assumptions for Pulliam's vigilance model (1973). Here we tested the sequential randomness in Black-necked cranes Grus nigricollis, to see if the vigilance sequence can be predicted. Not similar to other recent studies, we found that most vigilance sequences (44/46) passed runs randomness test, and the length of an inter-scan interval was usually unrelated to its previous scan duration. Our findings suggest high predation risk might favor a random pattern of vigilance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhongqiu Li
- School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University,163 Xianlin Avenue, Nanjing, 210023, China.
| | - Ye Che
- School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University,163 Xianlin Avenue, Nanjing, 210023, China
| | - Le Yang
- Tibet Plateau Institute of Biology,19 Beijing West Road, Lhasa, 850000, China
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14
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Duranton C, Bedossa T, Gaunet F. Interspecific behavioural synchronization: dogs exhibit locomotor synchrony with humans. Sci Rep 2017; 7:12384. [PMID: 28959014 PMCID: PMC5620060 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-12577-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2017] [Accepted: 09/06/2017] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Behavioural synchronization is widespread among living beings, including humans. Pairs of humans synchronize their behaviour in various situations, such as walking together. Affiliation between dyadic partners is known to promote behavioral synchronization. Surprisingly, however, interspecific synchronization has recived little scientific investigation. Dogs are sensitive to human cues, and share strong affiliative bonds with their owners. We thus investigated whether, when allowed to move freely in an enclosed unfamiliar space, dogs synchronize their behaviour with that of their owners'. We found that dogs visibly synchronized their location with their owner (staying in close proximity and moving to the same area), as well as their activity and temporal changes in activity (moving when their owner moved, standing still when their owner stood still, and gazing in the same direction as their owner). The present study demonstrates that owners act as attractors for their dogs in an indoor space, as mothers do for their children.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charlotte Duranton
- Laboratoire de Psychologie Cognitive, Aix-Marseille Université, CNRS, UMR7290, Fédération 3C, 3 Place Victor Hugo, CS 80249, Bât. 9, Case D, 13331, Marseille, CEDEX 03, France.
- AVA Association, 40 Le Quesnoy, 76220, Cuy-Saint-Fiacre, France.
| | - Thierry Bedossa
- AVA Association, 40 Le Quesnoy, 76220, Cuy-Saint-Fiacre, France
- Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, 7 Avenue du Général de Gaulle, 94704, Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - Florence Gaunet
- Laboratoire de Psychologie Cognitive, Aix-Marseille Université, CNRS, UMR7290, Fédération 3C, 3 Place Victor Hugo, CS 80249, Bât. 9, Case D, 13331, Marseille, CEDEX 03, France
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15
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Do shelter dogs engage in social referencing with their caregiver in an approach paradigm? An exploratory study. Appl Anim Behav Sci 2017. [DOI: 10.1016/j.applanim.2017.01.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
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16
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Beauchamp G. Difficulties in Monitoring Conspecifics Mediate the Effects of Visual Obstruction on the Level and Synchronization of Vigilance. Front Ecol Evol 2017. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2017.00012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
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17
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Li C, Beauchamp G, Wang Z, Cui P. Collective Vigilance in the Wintering Hooded Crane: The Role of Flock Size and Anthropogenic Disturbances in a Human-Dominated Landscape. Ethology 2016. [DOI: 10.1111/eth.12570] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Chunlin Li
- School of Resources and Environmental Engineering; Anhui University; Hefei China
- Anhui Biodiversity Information Center; Hefei China
| | - Guy Beauchamp
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine; University of Montréal; St-Hyacinthe QC Canada
| | - Zhen Wang
- School of Resources and Environmental Engineering; Anhui University; Hefei China
| | - Peng Cui
- Nanjing Institute of Environmental Sciences; Ministry of Environmental Protection; Nanjing China
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18
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Podgórski T, de Jong S, Bubnicki JW, Kuijper DP, Churski M, Jędrzejewska B. Drivers of synchronized vigilance in wild boar groups. Behav Ecol 2016. [DOI: 10.1093/beheco/arw016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
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Beauchamp G, Ruxton GD. Modeling scan and interscan durations in antipredator vigilance. J Theor Biol 2016; 390:86-96. [PMID: 26656187 DOI: 10.1016/j.jtbi.2015.11.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2015] [Revised: 10/29/2015] [Accepted: 11/05/2015] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Many prey species alternate between bouts of foraging and bouts of antipredator vigilance. Models of vigilance typically predict how much total time prey animals should allocate to vigilance but do not specify how that time should be scheduled throughout foraging. Here, we examine how the scheduling of vigilance pays off in terms of food intake and predator detection. Specifically, we study how changes in ecological factors affect the expected duration of scans to look out for predators and the duration of interscan intervals dedicated to foraging. Our framework includes factors like the risk of attack, how difficult it is to locate food and predators, and the distance to protective cover. Our individual-based model makes several predictions about scan and interscan durations, which are discussed in relation to the available empirical evidence in birds and mammals. This model of antipredator vigilance is a first step in incorporating constraints related to food gathering and the detection of predators. Adding such constraints adds a novel dimension to vigilance models and produces a variety of predictions that await empirical scrutiny.
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Affiliation(s)
- G Beauchamp
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Montreal, St-Hyacinthe, Quebec, Canada
| | - G D Ruxton
- School of Biological Sciences, University of St-Andrews, United Kingdom
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20
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Duranton C, Gaunet F. Canis sensitivus: Affiliation and dogs' sensitivity to others' behavior as the basis for synchronization with humans? J Vet Behav 2015. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jveb.2015.08.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
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21
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Brandl SJ, Bellwood DR. Coordinated vigilance provides evidence for direct reciprocity in coral reef fishes. Sci Rep 2015; 5:14556. [PMID: 26403250 PMCID: PMC4585916 DOI: 10.1038/srep14556] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2015] [Accepted: 08/21/2015] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Reciprocity is frequently assumed to require complex cognitive abilities. Therefore, it has been argued that reciprocity may be restricted to animals that can meet these demands. Here, we provide evidence for the potential presence of direct reciprocity in teleost fishes. We demonstrate that in pairs of coral reef rabbitfishes (f. Siganidae), one fish frequently assumes an upright vigilance position in the water column, while the partner forages in small crevices in the reef substratum. Both behaviours are strongly coordinated and partners regularly alternate their positions, resulting in a balanced distribution of foraging activity. Compared to solitary individuals, fishes in pairs exhibit longer vigilance bouts, suggesting that the help provided to the partner is costly. In turn, fishes in pairs take more consecutive bites and penetrate deeper into crevices than solitary individuals, suggesting that the safety provided by a vigilant partner may outweigh initial costs by increasing foraging efficiency. Thus, the described system appears to meet all of the requirements for direct reciprocity. We argue that the nature of rabbitfish pairs provides favourable conditions for the establishment of direct reciprocity, as continuous interaction with the same partner, simultaneous needs, interdependence, and communication relax the cognitive demands of reciprocal cooperation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simon J Brandl
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland 4811, Australia.,College of Marine and Environmental Sciences, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland 4811, Australia
| | - David R Bellwood
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland 4811, Australia.,College of Marine and Environmental Sciences, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland 4811, Australia
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The influence of emotional facial expressions on gaze-following in grouped and solitary pedestrians. Sci Rep 2014; 4:5794. [PMID: 25052060 PMCID: PMC4107368 DOI: 10.1038/srep05794] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2013] [Accepted: 06/26/2014] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The mechanisms contributing to collective attention in humans remain unclear. Research indicates that pedestrians utilise the gaze direction of others nearby to acquire environmentally relevant information, but it is not known which, if any, additional social cues influence this transmission. Extending upon previous field studies, we investigated whether gaze cues paired with emotional facial expressions (neutral, happy, suspicious and fearsome) of an oncoming walking confederate modulate gaze-following by pedestrians moving in a natural corridor. We found that pedestrians walking alone were not sensitive to this manipulation, while individuals traveling together in groups did reliably alter their response in relation to emotional cues. In particular, members of a collective were more likely to follow gaze cues indicative of a potential threat (i.e., suspicious or fearful facial expression). This modulation of visual attention dependent on whether pedestrians are in social aggregates may be important to drive adaptive exploitation of social information, and particularly emotional stimuli within natural contexts.
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Descovich KA, Lisle AT, Johnston S, Phillips CJC. The effect of group size on vigilance in a semi-solitary, fossorial marsupial (Lasiorhinus latifrons). Behav Processes 2013; 100:208-13. [PMID: 24140418 DOI: 10.1016/j.beproc.2013.09.015] [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: 03/19/2013] [Revised: 09/15/2013] [Accepted: 09/30/2013] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Prey species that congregate gain protection against predatory attacks and this advantage is often reflected by a reduction in vigilance behaviour by individuals in larger groups. Comparatively few studies have investigated vigilance in solitary animals, but those that have, found that vigilance increases as group size increases because of the threat posed by conspecifics and/or competition for resources. The southern hairy-nosed wombat (Lasiorhinus latifrons) is a large fossorial, nocturnal marsupial that is neither strictly solitary nor gregarious, sharing warren systems with multiple conspecifics. We investigated the effects of conspecific presence on vigilance behaviour in this semi-solitary species. We observed wild-born, adult L. latifrons wombats in three group sizes (Large (1♂, 3♀), Medium (1♂, 2♀) and Small (1♂, 1♀)) in a captive, naturalistic environment that allowed above-ground and den behaviour monitoring. Vigilance behaviours were performed less frequently by wombats in large groups (e.g. scanning, counts/day, Large: 55, Medium: 69, Small: 115, P=0.002) and more frequently as the distance from their nearest conspecific increased (r64=0.30, P= 0.016). Vigilance within burrows was also affected by social influences, with solitary wombats significantly more vigilant than those denning with a conspecific (e.g. scanning: conspecific absent: 0.13/5min, present: 0.03/5min, P<0.0001). It is concluded that the presence of conspecifics reduces vigilance in L. latifrons wombats, even within burrows, and this may partially explain the occurrence of warren sharing in the wild.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristin A Descovich
- School of Agriculture and Food Sciences, University of Queensland, Gatton Campus, Gatton, Queensland 4343, Australia; Centre for Animal Welfare and Ethics, School of Veterinary Science, University of Queensland, Gatton Campus, Gatton, Queensland 4343, Australia.
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Djagoun CAMS, Djossa BA, Mensah GA. Vigilance Efficiency and Behaviour of Bohor Reedbuck Redunca redunca (Pallas 1767) in a Savanna Environment of Pendjari Biosphere Reserve (Northern Benin). MAMMAL STUDY 2013. [DOI: 10.3106/041.038.0203] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Chabi A. M. S. Djagoun
- Laboratory of Applied Ecology, Faculty of Agronomic Sciences, University of Abomey-calavi, 01BP526 LEA-FSA,
Cotonou, Benin
| | - Bruno A. Djossa
- Laboratory of Applied Ecology, Faculty of Agronomic Sciences, University of Abomey-calavi, 01BP526 LEA-FSA,
Cotonou, Benin
| | - Guy A. Mensah
- Laboratory of Applied Ecology, Faculty of Agronomic Sciences, University of Abomey-calavi, 01BP526 LEA-FSA,
Cotonou, Benin
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25
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Iribarren C, Kotler BP. Foraging patterns of habitat use reveal landscape of fear of Nubian ibexCapra nubiana. WILDLIFE BIOLOGY 2012. [DOI: 10.2981/11-041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/01/2022]
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26
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Detecting predators and locating competitors while foraging: an experimental study of a medium-sized herbivore in an African savanna. Oecologia 2011; 169:419-30. [DOI: 10.1007/s00442-011-2218-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2011] [Accepted: 11/26/2011] [Indexed: 10/14/2022]
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27
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Beauchamp G, Alexander P, Jovani R. Consistent waves of collective vigilance in groups using public information about predation risk. Behav Ecol 2011. [DOI: 10.1093/beheco/arr194] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
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28
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Öst M, Tierala T. Synchronized vigilance while feeding in common eider brood-rearing coalitions. Behav Ecol 2011. [DOI: 10.1093/beheco/arq223] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
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Ramp D, Foale CG, Roger E, Croft DB. Suitability of acoustics as non-lethal deterrents for macropodids: the influence of origin, delivery and anti-predator behaviour. WILDLIFE RESEARCH 2011. [DOI: 10.1071/wr11093] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Context
Auditory devices used to deter wildlife are a potentially humane and effective way of minimising deleterious interactions with humans and their livelihoods and have been used successfully for many species around the world. Acoustic cues can be used to manipulate anti-predator behaviour, encouraging animals to forage elsewhere. Employing acoustics derived from natural sources to make use of innate behavioural responses has been suggested to outperform novel or artificial sounds; however, anti-predator strategies vary among sympatric species and will influence the utility of acoustic stimuli for deterring wildlife.
Aims
We aimed to test the interaction between the source of origin (natural or novel) and species traits (anti-predator strategy – grouping behaviour) on the efficacy of using acoustic stimuli to elicit alarm responses for two species in the family Macropodidae commonly associated with browsing on forest plantation seedlings; the red-necked pademelon (Thylogale thetis) and the red-necked wallaby (Macropus rufogriseus banksianus).
Methods
We tested these factors in captivity using playback experiments of acoustic stimuli and monitored the behavioural responses of subjects.
Results
Red-necked pademelons exhibited strong responses to bioacoustic and novel stimuli but did not greatly differentiate among them. Short-term habituation to predator calls was detected whereas responsiveness to novel sounds increased. Red-necked wallabies most strongly responded to conspecific distress calls, showing no sign of short-term habituation.
Conclusions
Results from the present and other studies suggest that bioacoustic deterrents, particularly those utilising natural conspecific sounds, aimed at communicating danger, have the potential to play an important role in non-lethal wildlife management, although that responsiveness varies with the form of anti-predator strategies employed.
Implications
If alarm responses translate into subjects vacating targeted areas, then there is some potential to implement non-lethal acoustic deterrents for macropodids alongside other management measures aimed at preventing impacts on primary production. Problematically, our experiments showed that without accurate acoustic delivery, particularly of sounds with infrasonic components, the development of effective bioacoustic deterrents may remain stymied.
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Rands SA. Self-improvement for team-players: the effects of individual effort on aggregated group information. PLoS One 2010; 5:e11705. [PMID: 20657785 PMCID: PMC2908136 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0011705] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2010] [Accepted: 06/28/2010] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
By putting effort into behaviours like foraging or scanning for predators, an animal can improve the correctness of its personal information about the environment. For animals living in groups, the individual can gain further information if it is able to assess public information about the environment from other group members. Earlier work has shown that consensus group decisions based upon the public information available within the group are more likely to be correct than decisions based upon personal information alone, given that each individual in a group has a fixed probability of being correct. This study develops a model where group members are able to improve their personal likelihood of making a correct decision by conducting some level of (costly) effort. I demonstrate that there is an evolutionarily stable level of effort for all the individuals within the group, and the effort made by an individual should decrease with increasing group size. The relevance of these results to social decision making is discussed: in particular, these results are similar to standard theoretical predictions about the amount of vigilance shown by individuals decreasing with increasing group size. However, this model suggests that these results could come about where individuals are coordinating their effort within the group (unlike standard models, which assume that all individual effort is independent of the actions of others). This ties in with experimental findings where individuals have been shown to monitor the efforts of others.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sean A Rands
- School of Veterinary Science, Centre for Behavioural Biology, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom.
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Favreau FR, Goldizen AW, Pays O. Interactions among social monitoring, anti-predator vigilance and group size in eastern grey kangaroos. Proc Biol Sci 2010; 277:2089-95. [PMID: 20219737 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2009.2337] [Citation(s) in RCA: 72] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Group size is known to affect both the amount of time that prey animals spend in vigilance and the degree to which the vigilance of group members is synchronized. However, the variation in group-size effects reported in the literature is not yet understood. Prey animals exhibit vigilance both to protect themselves against predators and to monitor other group members, and both forms of vigilance presumably influence group-size effects on vigilance. However, our understanding of the patterns of individual investment underlying the time sharing between anti-predator and social vigilance is still limited. We studied patterns of variation in individual vigilance and the synchronization of vigilance with group size in a wild population of eastern grey kangaroos (Macropus giganteus) subject to predation, in particular focusing on peripheral females because we expected that they would exhibit both social and anti-predator vigilance. There was no global effect of group size on individual vigilance. The lack of group-size effect was the result of two compensating effects. The proportion of time individuals spent looking at other group members increased, whereas the proportion of time they spent scanning the environment decreased with group size; as a result, overall vigilance levels did not change with group size. Moreover, a degree of synchrony of vigilance occurred within groups and that degree increased with the proportion of vigilance time peripheral females spent in anti-predator vigilance. Our results highlight the crucial roles of both social and anti-predator components of vigilance in the understanding of the relationship between group size and vigilance, as well as in the synchronization of vigilance among group members.
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Pays O, Goulard M, Blomberg SP, Goldizen AW, Sirot E, Jarman PJ. The effect of social facilitation on vigilance in the eastern gray kangaroo, Macropus giganteus. Behav Ecol 2009. [DOI: 10.1093/beheco/arp019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
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Favreau FR, Jarman PJ, Goldizen AW, Dubot AL, Sourice S, Pays O. Vigilance in a solitary marsupial, the common wombat (Vombatus ursinus). AUST J ZOOL 2009. [DOI: 10.1071/zo09062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
We studied vigilance activity in a wild population of the common wombat (Vombatus ursinus), a large, solitary, burrow-using, marsupial prey species in which individuals tolerate the presence of conspecifics within their home range. For the first time, we report postures and rates of vigilance in common wombats; our results show a limited repertoire of vigilant postures and low overall rates of vigilance. Because few studies of birds and mammals that have reported the effect of distance to conspecifics on the vigilance of focal animals have considered solitary prey species, we tested this effect in wombats. Our results show that a model including distance to cover and distance to the nearest conspecific, but not time of day, best explained the variation in the proportion of time that focal individuals spent in vigilance. Individual vigilance decreased when distance to cover increased. Vigilance of wombats increased when there was a conspecific within a radius of 70 m of the focal individual. In addition, we tested whether pairs of nearby wombats scanned independently of one another, coordinated their activity in non-overlapping bouts of vigilance or synchronised their bouts of vigilance. Wombats in close proximity exhibited independent bouts of individual vigilant and foraging activity. Thus, in this solitary species, our results support the assumption that individuals scan independently of each other.
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