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Prochotta D, Winter S, Fennessy J, Janke A. Population genomics reveals mito-nuclear discordance and admixed populations in southern giraffe. Mol Phylogenet Evol 2024:108198. [PMID: 39276822 DOI: 10.1016/j.ympev.2024.108198] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2023] [Revised: 07/30/2024] [Accepted: 09/11/2024] [Indexed: 09/17/2024]
Abstract
Studying wildlife taxonomic diversity and identifying distinct populations has traditionally been largely based on morphology and geographic origin. More recently, this method has been supplemented by genetic data from the mitochondrial genome. However, this is limited as only maternally inherited and may not reflect the true nature of a population's genetics. Within the giraffe (Giraffa spp.), subspecies and unique populations were successfully characterized using both mitochondrial and genomic DNA studies, which led to new insights and, in some cases, unexpected results that required further verification. Here, we sequenced the genomes of 85 southern giraffe (G. giraffa) individuals from ten populations across southern Africa for a detailed investigation into the genetic diversity and history of its two subspecies, the Angolan (G. g. angolensis) and the South African (G. g. giraffa) giraffe. While the overall genotypes show low levels of runs of homozygosity compared to other mammals, the degree of heterozygosity is limited despite the large population size of South African giraffe. The nuclear genotype is largely congruent with the mitochondrial genotype. However, we have identified that the distribution of the Angolan giraffe is not as far east as indicated in an earlier mitochondrial DNA study. Botswana's Central Kalahari Game Reserve giraffe are unique, with a clear admixture of Angolan and South African giraffe populations. However, the enigmatic desert-dwelling giraffe of northwest Namibia is locally distinct from other Angolan giraffe yet exhibits intra-subspecies signs of admixture resulting from a recent introduction of individuals from Namibia's Etosha National Park. Whole genome sequencing is an invaluable and nearly indispensable tool for wildlife management to uncover genetic diversity that is undetectable through mitogenomic, geographical, and morphological means.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Prochotta
- Institute for Ecology, Evolution and Diversity, Goethe University, Max-von-Laue-Strasse. 9, Frankfurt am Main, Germany; Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre (BiK-F), Georg-Voigt-Strasse 14-16, Frankfurt am Main, Germany.
| | - Sven Winter
- Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre (BiK-F), Georg-Voigt-Strasse 14-16, Frankfurt am Main, Germany; Research Institute of Wildlife Ecology, Vetmeduni Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
| | - Julian Fennessy
- Giraffe Conservation Foundation, PO Box 86099, Eros, Windhoek, Namibia; School of Biology and Environmental Science, University College Dublin, Ireland.
| | - Axel Janke
- Institute for Ecology, Evolution and Diversity, Goethe University, Max-von-Laue-Strasse. 9, Frankfurt am Main, Germany; Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre (BiK-F), Georg-Voigt-Strasse 14-16, Frankfurt am Main, Germany.
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2
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Papageorgiou D, Cherono W, Gall G, Nyaguthii B, Farine DR. Testing the information centre hypothesis in a multilevel society. J Anim Ecol 2024; 93:1147-1159. [PMID: 38961615 DOI: 10.1111/1365-2656.14131] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2023] [Accepted: 05/22/2024] [Indexed: 07/05/2024]
Abstract
In various animal species conspecifics aggregate at sleeping sites. Such aggregations can act as information centres where individuals acquire up-to-date knowledge about their environment. In some species, communal sleeping sites comprise individuals from multiple groups, where each group maintains stable membership over time. We used GPS tracking to simultaneously record group movement in a population of wild vulturine guineafowl (Acryllium vulturinum) to investigate whether communal sleeping sites can facilitate the transfer of information among individuals across distinct groups. These birds live in large and stable groups that move both together and apart, often forming communal roosts containing up to five groups. We first test whether roosts provide the opportunity for individuals to acquire information from members of other groups by examining the spatial organization at roosts. The GPS data reveal that groups intermix, thereby providing an opportunity for individuals to acquire out-group information. We next conduct a field experiment to test whether naïve groups can locate novel food patches when co-roosting with knowledgeable groups. We find that co-roosting substantially increases the chances for the members of a naïve group to discover a patch known to individuals from other groups at the shared roost. Further, we find that the discovery of food patches by naïve groups subsequently shapes their space use and inter-group associations. We also draw on our long-term tracking to provide examples that demonstrate natural cases where communal roosting has preceded large-scale multi-group collective movements that extend into areas beyond the groups' normal ranges. Our findings support the extension of the information centre hypothesis to communal sleeping sites that consist of distinct social groups.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danai Papageorgiou
- Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Department of Evolutionary Anthropology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Department of Collective Behavior, Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior, Konstanz, Germany
- College for Life Sciences, Wissenschaftskolleg zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | | | - Gabriella Gall
- Zukunftskolleg, University of Konstanz, Konstanz, Germany
- Centre for the Advanced Study of Collective Behaviour, University of Konstanz, Konstanz, Germany
- Department for the Ecology of Animal Societies, Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior, Konstanz, Germany
| | - Brendah Nyaguthii
- Mpala Research Center, Nanyuki, Kenya
- Department of Ornithology, National Museums of Kenya, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Damien R Farine
- Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Department of Collective Behavior, Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior, Konstanz, Germany
- Department of Ornithology, National Museums of Kenya, Nairobi, Kenya
- Division of Ecology and Evolution, Research School of Biology, Australian National University, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
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3
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Rushmore J, Beechler BR, Tavalire H, Gorsich EE, Charleston B, Devan‐Song A, Glidden CK, Jolles AE. The heterogeneous herd: Drivers of close-contact variation in African buffalo and implications for pathogen invasion. Ecol Evol 2023; 13:e10447. [PMID: 37621318 PMCID: PMC10445036 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.10447] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2023] [Revised: 07/28/2023] [Accepted: 08/05/2023] [Indexed: 08/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Many infectious pathogens are shared through social interactions, and examining host connectivity has offered valuable insights for understanding patterns of pathogen transmission across wildlife species. African buffalo are social ungulates and important reservoirs of directly-transmitted pathogens that impact numerous wildlife and livestock species. Here, we analyzed African buffalo social networks to quantify variation in close contacts, examined drivers of contact heterogeneity, and investigated how the observed contact patterns affect pathogen invasion likelihoods for a wild social ungulate. We collected continuous association data using proximity collars and sampled host traits approximately every 2 months during a 15-month study period in Kruger National Park, South Africa. Although the observed herd was well connected, with most individuals contacting each other during each bimonthly interval, our analyses revealed striking heterogeneity in close-contact associations among herd members. Network analysis showed that individual connectivity was stable over time and that individual age, sex, reproductive status, and pairwise genetic relatedness were important predictors of buffalo connectivity. Calves were the most connected members of the herd, and adult males were the least connected. These findings highlight the role susceptible calves may play in the transmission of pathogens within the herd. We also demonstrate that, at time scales relevant to infectious pathogens found in nature, the observed level of connectivity affects pathogen invasion likelihoods for a wide range of infectious periods and transmissibilities. Ultimately, our study identifies key predictors of social connectivity in a social ungulate and illustrates how contact heterogeneity, even within a highly connected herd, can shape pathogen invasion likelihoods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julie Rushmore
- Carlson College of Veterinary MedicineOregon State UniversityCorvallisOregonUSA
- One Health Institute, School of Veterinary MedicineUniversity of CaliforniaDavisCaliforniaUSA
- EpiCenter for Disease Dynamics, School of Veterinary MedicineUniversity of CaliforniaDavisCaliforniaUSA
| | - Brianna R. Beechler
- Carlson College of Veterinary MedicineOregon State UniversityCorvallisOregonUSA
| | - Hannah Tavalire
- Department of Integrative BiologyOregon State UniversityCorvallisOregonUSA
| | - Erin E. Gorsich
- Department of Integrative BiologyOregon State UniversityCorvallisOregonUSA
- The Zeeman Institute: Systems Biology and Infectious Disease Epidemiology ResearchUniversity of WarwickCoventryUK
- School of Life SciencesUniversity of WarwickCoventryUK
| | | | - Anne Devan‐Song
- Department of Integrative BiologyOregon State UniversityCorvallisOregonUSA
| | | | - Anna E. Jolles
- Carlson College of Veterinary MedicineOregon State UniversityCorvallisOregonUSA
- Department of Integrative BiologyOregon State UniversityCorvallisOregonUSA
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4
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Brown MB, Fennessy JT, Crego RD, Fleming CH, Alves J, Brandlová K, Fennessy S, Ferguson S, Hauptfleisch M, Hejcmanova P, Hoffman R, Leimgruber P, Masiaine S, McQualter K, Mueller T, Muller B, Muneza A, O'Connor D, Olivier AJ, Rabeil T, Seager S, Stacy-Dawes J, van Schalkwyk L, Stabach J. Ranging behaviours across ecological and anthropogenic disturbance gradients: a pan-African perspective of giraffe ( Giraffa spp .) space use. Proc Biol Sci 2023; 290:20230912. [PMID: 37357852 PMCID: PMC10291724 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2023.0912] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2022] [Accepted: 05/26/2023] [Indexed: 06/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Animal movement behaviours are shaped by diverse factors, including resource availability and human impacts on the landscape. We generated home range estimates and daily movement rate estimates for 149 giraffe (Giraffa spp.) from all four species across Africa to evaluate the effects of environmental productivity and anthropogenic disturbance on space use. Using the continuous time movement modelling framework and a novel application of mixed effects meta-regression, we summarized overall giraffe space use and tested for the effects of resource availability and human impact on 95% autocorrelated kernel density estimate (AKDE) size and daily movement. The mean 95% AKDE was 359.9 km2 and the mean daily movement was 14.2 km, both with marginally significant differences across species. We found significant negative effects of resource availability, and significant positive effects of resource heterogeneity and protected area overlap on 95% AKDE size. There were significant negative effects of overall anthropogenic disturbance and positive effects of the heterogeneity of anthropogenic disturbance on daily movements and 95% AKDE size. Our results provide unique insights into the interactive effects of resource availability and anthropogenic development on the movements of a large-bodied browser and highlight the potential impacts of rapidly changing landscapes on animal space-use patterns.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Butler Brown
- Giraffe Conservation Foundation, PO Box 86099, Eros, Windhoek, Namibia
- Smithsonian National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute, Conservation Ecology Center, 1500 Remount Rd, Front Royal, VA 22630, USA
| | | | - Ramiro D. Crego
- Smithsonian National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute, Conservation Ecology Center, 1500 Remount Rd, Front Royal, VA 22630, USA
| | - Christen H. Fleming
- Smithsonian National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute, Conservation Ecology Center, 1500 Remount Rd, Front Royal, VA 22630, USA
- Department of Biology, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA
| | - Joel Alves
- Wildscapes Veterinary & Conservation Services, Hoedspruit, South Africa
| | - Karolina Brandlová
- Faculty of Tropical AgriSciences, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Kamycka 129, 16500 Prague, Czechia
| | | | - Sara Ferguson
- Giraffe Conservation Foundation, PO Box 86099, Eros, Windhoek, Namibia
| | - Morgan Hauptfleisch
- Biodiversity Research Centre, Namibia University of Science and Technology, 8 Johann Albrecht Street, Windhoek, Namibia
| | - Pavla Hejcmanova
- Faculty of Tropical AgriSciences, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Kamycka 129, 16500 Prague, Czechia
| | - Rigardt Hoffman
- Giraffe Conservation Foundation, PO Box 86099, Eros, Windhoek, Namibia
| | - Peter Leimgruber
- Smithsonian National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute, Conservation Ecology Center, 1500 Remount Rd, Front Royal, VA 22630, USA
| | - Symon Masiaine
- Conservation Science & Wildlife Health, San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Kylie McQualter
- Centre for Ecosystem Studies, School of Biological Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales, Kensington, NSW, 2052, Australia
| | - Thomas Mueller
- Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre and Department of Biological Science, Goethe University Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Ben Muller
- Wildscapes Veterinary & Conservation Services, Hoedspruit, South Africa
| | - Arthur Muneza
- Giraffe Conservation Foundation, PO Box 86099, Eros, Windhoek, Namibia
| | - David O'Connor
- Smithsonian National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute, Conservation Ecology Center, 1500 Remount Rd, Front Royal, VA 22630, USA
- Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre and Department of Biological Science, Goethe University Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Adriaan Jacobus Olivier
- Department of Conservation Ecology and Entomology, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag X1, Matieland 7602, South Africa
| | | | | | - Jenna Stacy-Dawes
- Conservation Science & Wildlife Health, San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Louis van Schalkwyk
- Office of the State Veterinarian, Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development, Kruger National Park, Skukuza, South Africa
- Department of Migration, Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior, Radolfzell, Germany
- Department of Veterinary Tropical Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Jared Stabach
- Smithsonian National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute, Conservation Ecology Center, 1500 Remount Rd, Front Royal, VA 22630, USA
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5
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Familiarity, age, weaning and health status impact social proximity networks in dairy calves. Sci Rep 2023; 13:2275. [PMID: 36754990 PMCID: PMC9908884 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-29309-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2022] [Accepted: 02/02/2023] [Indexed: 02/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Social network analysis in dairy calves has not been widely studied, with previous studies limited by the short study duration, and low number of animals and replicates. In this study, we investigated social proximity interactions of 79 Holstein-Friesian calves from 5 cohorts for up to 76 days. Networks were computed using 4-day aggregated associations obtained from ultrawideband location sensor technology, at 1 Hz sampling rate. The effect of age, familiarity, health, and weaning status on the social proximity networks of dairy calves was assessed. Networks were poorly correlated (non-stable) between the different 4-day periods, in the majority of them calves associated heterogeneously, and individuals assorted based on previous familiarity for the whole duration of the study. Age significantly increased association strength, social time and eigenvector centrality and significantly decreased closeness and coefficient of variation in association (CV). Sick calves had a significantly lower strength, social time, centrality and CV, and significantly higher closeness compared to the healthy calves. During and after weaning, calves had significantly lower closeness and CV, and significantly higher association strength, social time, and eigenvector centrality. These results indicate that age, familiarity, weaning, and sickness have a significant impact on the variation of social proximity interaction of calves.
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6
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Sunga J, Webber QM, Humber J, Rodrigues B, Broders HG. Roost fidelity partially explains maternity roosting association patterns in Myotis lucifugus. Anim Behav 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2022.09.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
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7
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Kasozi H, Linden DW, Roloff GJ, Montgomery RA. Evaluating the prevalence and spatial distribution of giraffes injured by non‐target poaching. J Zool (1987) 2022. [DOI: 10.1111/jzo.13033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- H. Kasozi
- Department of Zoology, Entomology and Fisheries Sciences Makerere University Kampala Uganda
| | - D. W. Linden
- NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service Gloucester MA USA
| | - G. J. Roloff
- Department of Fisheries and Wildlife Michigan State University East Lansing MI USA
| | - R. A. Montgomery
- Wildlife Conservation Research Unit, Department of Zoology University of Oxford Tubney Oxon UK
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8
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Using spot pattern recognition to examine population biology, evolutionary ecology, sociality, and movements of giraffes: a 70-year retrospective. Mamm Biol 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s42991-022-00261-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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9
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Morandi K, Lindholm AK, Lee DE, Bond ML. Phenotypic matching by spot pattern potentially mediates female giraffe social associations. J Zool (1987) 2022. [DOI: 10.1111/jzo.13009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- K. Morandi
- Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies University of Zurich Zurich Switzerland
| | - A. K. Lindholm
- Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies University of Zurich Zurich Switzerland
| | - D. E. Lee
- Wild Nature Institute Concord NH USA
- Department of Biology Pennsylvania State University University Park PA USA
| | - M. L. Bond
- Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies University of Zurich Zurich Switzerland
- Wild Nature Institute Concord NH USA
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10
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Abstract
AbstractAll mammals experience different life stages as they develop, each of which is characterised by particular physical and behavioural changes. Despite the emergence of sophisticated behaviour analysis techniques, the ways in which social behaviour varies by life stage, and how this is influenced by an individual’s sex, is relatively understudied in most social mammals other than primates and elephants. Understanding the social requirements of mammals should be a central and critical component to their conservation, captive management and welfare. Here, we apply social network analysis techniques to understand how social behaviour differs with life stage in the giraffe, a gregarious fission–fusion mammal. We studied two wild populations of giraffes in Kenya and found that adolescents have significantly stronger associations with adolescents of their own sex first and foremost, then adults of their own sex. Other associations were significantly lower than would be expected, or non-significant. Our results suggest that adolescence in both male and female giraffes shares similar features to adolescence in other social mammal species. We discuss how the application of such knowledge might improve the management and welfare of captive giraffes.
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11
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Everyone matters: identification with facial wrinkles allows more accurate inference of elephant social dynamics. Mamm Biol 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s42991-022-00257-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
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12
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Static and dynamic methods in social network analysis reveal the association patterns of desert-dwelling giraffe. Behav Ecol Sociobiol 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s00265-022-03167-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
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13
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Abstract
Dispersal is a critical process that shapes the structure of wild animal populations. In species that form multi‐level societies, natal dispersal might be social (associating with a different social community while remaining near the natal area), spatial (moving away from the natal area while continuing to associate with the same community) or both social and spatial (associating with a different community and moving away from the natal area). For such species, classical spatial measures of dispersal, such as distance moved, might not capture social dispersal. We examined dispersal outcomes for 67 male and 70 female giraffe calves over 7 years in a large, unfenced, ecologically heterogeneous landscape. We tested predictions about the influence of sex, food availability, low‐ and high‐impact human settlements, and local giraffe population density on social or spatial dispersal, dispersal distance, and age of dispersal. We found that dispersal is sex‐specific, with females being predominately philopatric. When dispersing, both sexes did so at a mean of 4 years of age. Most (69% of total) young males dispersed, with 84% of male dispersers associating with a different adult female social community than that of their mother, but one in four of these dispersers remained spatially near to their natal area. For adolescent males that dispersed socially but not spatially, overlapping female social communities may represent a potential pool of unrelated mating partners without the risks of travelling to unfamiliar areas. Just 26% of young females dispersed and half of these continued to associate with the adult female social community into which they were born, confirming the importance of maintaining ties among females from calf to adulthood. Furthermore, individuals born farther from high‐impact human settlements were more likely to spatially or socially‐and‐spatially disperse, move greater distances from their natal areas, and disperse at a younger age. Our study highlights the potential importance of social structure in dispersal decisions, and of tracking social structure when studying dispersal in multi‐level societies, as effective dispersal can be attained without large‐scale spatial displacements.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luca Börger
- Department of Biosciences, Swansea University, Swansea, UK
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14
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Evans JC, Hodgson DJ, Boogert NJ, Silk MJ. Group size and modularity interact to shape the spread of infection and information through animal societies. Behav Ecol Sociobiol 2021; 75:163. [PMID: 34866760 PMCID: PMC8626757 DOI: 10.1007/s00265-021-03102-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2021] [Revised: 11/08/2021] [Accepted: 11/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Social interactions between animals can provide many benefits, including the ability to gain useful environmental information through social learning. However, these social contacts can also facilitate the transmission of infectious diseases through a population. Animals engaging in social interactions therefore face a trade-off between the potential informational benefits and the risk of acquiring disease. Theoretical models have suggested that modular social networks, associated with the formation of groups or sub-groups, can slow spread of infection by trapping it within particular groups. However, these social structures will not necessarily impact the spread of information in the same way if its transmission follows a "complex contagion", e.g. through individuals disproportionally copying the majority (conformist learning). Here we use simulation models to demonstrate that modular networks can promote the spread of information relative to the spread of infection, but only when the network is fragmented and group sizes are small. We show that the difference in transmission between information and disease is maximised for more well-connected social networks when the likelihood of transmission is intermediate. Our results have important implications for understanding the selective pressures operating on the social structure of animal societies, revealing that highly fragmented networks such as those formed in fission-fusion social groups and multilevel societies can be effective in modulating the infection-information trade-off for individuals within them. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s00265-021-03102-4.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julian C. Evans
- Deparment of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - David J. Hodgson
- Centre for Ecology and Conservation, University of Exeter Penryn Campus, Penryn, UK
| | - Neeltje J. Boogert
- Centre for Ecology and Conservation, University of Exeter Penryn Campus, Penryn, UK
| | - Matthew J. Silk
- Centre for Ecology and Conservation, University of Exeter Penryn Campus, Penryn, UK
- National Institute of Mathematical and Biological Synthesis (NIMBioS), University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN USA
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15
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Lavista Ferres JM, Lee DE, Nasir M, Chen YC, Bijral AS, Bercovitch FB, Bond ML. Social connectedness and movements among communities of giraffes vary by sex and age class. Anim Behav 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2021.08.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
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16
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Muller Z, Harris S. A review of the social behaviour of the giraffe
Giraffa camelopardalis
: a misunderstood but socially complex species. Mamm Rev 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/mam.12268] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Zoe Muller
- School of Biological Sciences University of Bristol Bristol Life Sciences Building, 24 Tyndall Avenue Bristol BS8 1TQ UK
| | - Stephen Harris
- School of Biological Sciences University of Bristol Bristol Life Sciences Building, 24 Tyndall Avenue Bristol BS8 1TQ UK
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17
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Lewton J, Rose PE. Social networks research in ex situ populations: Patterns, trends, and future directions for conservation-focused behavioral research. Zoo Biol 2021; 40:493-502. [PMID: 34227153 DOI: 10.1002/zoo.21638] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2020] [Revised: 05/30/2021] [Accepted: 06/25/2021] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
Social networks research using non-human animals has grown over the past decade, utilizing a wide range of species to answer an array of pure and applied questions. Network approaches have relevance to conservation, evaluating social influences on fecundity, health, fitness and longevity. While the application of network approaches to in situ populations with conservation concern appears in published literature, the degree to which ex situ and zoo-housed populations are the focus of "social networks for conservation research" is limited. Captive environments provide scientists with an ability to understand the social behavior of species that may be hard to observe consistently in the wild. This paper evaluates the scope of network research involving ex situ populations, analyzing output from 2010 to 2019 to determine trends in questions and subjects using ex situ populations. We show that only 8.2% of ex situ social network analysis (SNA) implications are of conservation-focus, apparent in papers relating to birds, carnivores, bats, primates, reptiles, and ungulates. Husbandry and welfare questions predominate in ex situ network research, but over half of these papers have nonpractical application (basic science). The chance of a citation for a basic science paper was 95.4% more than for a conservation-based paper. For taxonomic groups, primate-focused papers had the most citations. The focus of ex situ conservation-based networks research may be driven by the needs of conservation programs (e.g., population recovery outcomes) or by a need to evaluate the efficacy of ex situ conservation goals. We evaluate our findings considering the IUCN's One Plan Approach to conservation to show how in situ and ex situ network research is applicable to global conservation efforts. We have identified that there is a lack of application and evaluation of SNA to wildlife conservation. We highlight future areas of research in zoos and hope to stimulate discussion and collaboration between relevant parties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jack Lewton
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, Silwood Park Campus, Ascot, UK
| | - Paul E Rose
- Centre for Research in Animal Behaviour, College of Life & Environmental Science, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK.,WWT Slimbridge Wetland Centre, Slimbridge, UK
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18
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Caicoya AL, Amici F, Ensenyat C, Colell M. Comparative cognition in three understudied ungulate species: European bison, forest buffalos and giraffes. Front Zool 2021; 18:30. [PMID: 34158081 PMCID: PMC8218502 DOI: 10.1186/s12983-021-00417-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2020] [Accepted: 04/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Comparative cognition has historically focused on a few taxa such as primates, birds or rodents. However, a broader perspective is essential to understand how different selective pressures affect cognition in different taxa, as more recently shown in several studies. Here we present the same battery of cognitive tasks to two understudied ungulate species with different socio-ecological characteristics, European bison (Bison bonasus) and forest buffalos (Syncerus caffer nanus), and we compare their performance to previous findings in giraffes (Giraffa camelopardalis). We presented subjects with an Object permanence task, Memory tasks with 30 and 60 s delays, two inference tasks based on acoustic cues (i.e. Acoustic inference tasks) and a control task to check for the use of olfactory cues (i.e. Olfactory task). Results Overall, giraffes outperformed bison and buffalos, and bison outperformed buffalos (that performed at chance level). All species performed better in the Object permanence task than in the Memory tasks and one of the Acoustic inference tasks (which they likely solved by relying on stimulus enhancement). Giraffes performed better than buffalos in the Shake full Acoustic inference task, but worse than bison and buffalos in the Shake empty Acoustic inference task. Conclusions In sum, our results are in line with the hypothesis that specific socio-ecological characteristics played a crucial role in the evolution of cognition, and that higher fission-fusion levels and larger dietary breadth are linked to higher cognitive skills. This study shows that ungulates may be an excellent model to test evolutionary hypotheses on the emergence of cognition. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12983-021-00417-w.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alvaro Lopez Caicoya
- Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychobiology, Faculty of Psychology, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain. .,Institute of Neurosciences, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Federica Amici
- Behavioral Ecology Research Group, Institute of Biology, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany.,Research Group Primate Behavioural Ecology, Department of Human Behavior, Ecology and Culture, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig, Germany
| | | | - Montserrat Colell
- Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychobiology, Faculty of Psychology, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.,Institute of Neurosciences, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
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19
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Granweiler J, Thorley J, Rotics S. Sparring dynamics and individual laterality in male South African giraffes. Ethology 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/eth.13199] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Jessica Granweiler
- School of Earth and Environmental Sciences University of Manchester Manchester UK
| | - Jack Thorley
- Department of Zoology University of Cambridge Cambridge UK
- Department of Earth, Oceans and Ecological Sciences University of Liverpool Liverpool UK
| | - Shay Rotics
- Department of Zoology University of Cambridge Cambridge UK
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20
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Bond ML, König B, Ozgul A, Farine DR, Lee DE. Socially Defined Subpopulations Reveal Demographic Variation in a Giraffe Metapopulation. J Wildl Manage 2021. [DOI: 10.1002/jwmg.22044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Monica L. Bond
- Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies University of Zurich Zurich Switzerland
| | - Barbara König
- Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies University of Zurich Zurich Switzerland
| | - Arpat Ozgul
- Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies University of Zurich Zurich Switzerland
| | - Damien R. Farine
- Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies University of Zurich Zurich Switzerland
| | - Derek E. Lee
- Department of Biology Pennsylvania State University, University Park Pennsylvania USA
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21
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Burger AL, Hartig J, Dierkes PW. Biological and environmental factors as sources of variation in nocturnal behavior of giraffe. Zoo Biol 2021; 40:171-181. [PMID: 33666286 DOI: 10.1002/zoo.21596] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2021] [Accepted: 02/09/2021] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Upon a drastic decline of the giraffe population in the wild, conservation efforts and therefore the role of zoos have become more important than ever. With their unique opportunities, zoos provide excellent conditions to study animal behavior, expanding the knowledge about the giraffe's behavior repertoire and their ability to adapt. This study therefore examined the nocturnal behavior of 63 giraffe living in 13 different EAZA zoos across Germany and the Netherlands. Giraffe were observed and videos recorded via infrared sensitive cameras during the winter seasons 2015-2018. The observation period spanned nightly from 17:00 to 7:00. Thus, 198 nights, with a total of 2772 h were recorded and analyzed. Linear mixed models were then used to assess potential biological and environmental factors influencing behavior during the dark phase. Results show that individual variables such as age, subspecies and motherhood determined nocturnal activity and sleep behavior most. Among the variables studied, husbandry conditions and environmental factors complying with EAZA standards had no influence on the giraffe's nocturnal behavior. By combining nocturnal activity analyses and an assessment of potential influencing factors, our findings present a holistic approach to a better understanding of captive giraffe behavior and allow for management implications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Lena Burger
- Bioscience Education and Zoo Biology, Goethe University Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Johannes Hartig
- Department of Educational Quality and Evaluation, DIPF, Leibniz Institute for Research and Information in Education, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Paul W Dierkes
- Bioscience Education and Zoo Biology, Goethe University Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
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22
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Bond ML, Lee DE, Farine DR, Ozgul A, König B. Sociability increases survival of adult female giraffes. Proc Biol Sci 2021; 288:20202770. [PMID: 33563118 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2020.2770] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Studies increasingly show that social connectedness plays a key role in determining survival, in addition to natural and anthropogenic environmental factors. Few studies, however, integrated social, non-social and demographic data to elucidate what components of an animal's socio-ecological environment are most important to their survival. Female giraffes (Giraffa camelopardalis) form structured societies with highly dynamic group membership but stable long-term associations. We examined the relative contributions of sociability (relationship strength, gregariousness and betweenness), together with those of the natural (food sources and vegetation types) and anthropogenic environment (distance from human settlements), to adult female giraffe survival. We tested predictions about the influence of sociability and natural and human factors at two social levels: the individual and the social community. Survival was primarily driven by individual- rather than community-level social factors. Gregariousness (the number of other females each individual was observed with on average) was most important in explaining variation in female adult survival, more than other social traits and any natural or anthropogenic environmental factors. For adult female giraffes, grouping with more other females, even as group membership frequently changes, is correlated with better survival, and this sociability appears to be more important than several attributes of their non-social environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- M L Bond
- Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.,Wild Nature Institute, Concord, NH, USA
| | - D E Lee
- Wild Nature Institute, Concord, NH, USA.,Department of Biology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA
| | - D R Farine
- Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.,Department of Collective Behavior, Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior, Konstanz, Germany.,Center for the Advanced Study of Collective Behaviour, University of Konstanz, Konstanz, Germany
| | - A Ozgul
- Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - B König
- Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
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23
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Isbell LA, Bidner LR, Loftus JC, Kimuyu DM, Young TP. Absentee owners and overlapping home ranges in a territorial species. Behav Ecol Sociobiol 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s00265-020-02945-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
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24
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25
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Social Systems. Anim Behav 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-82879-0_13] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
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26
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Dorfman A, Weiss O, Hagbi Z, Levi A, Eilam D. Social spatial cognition. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2020; 121:277-290. [PMID: 33373664 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2020.12.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2020] [Revised: 12/13/2020] [Accepted: 12/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Social spatial cognition refers to the interaction between self, place, and partners, with emphasis on the impact of the social environment on spatial behavior and on how individual spatial representations converge to form collective spatial behavior - i.e., common places and routes. Recent studies suggest that in addition to their mental representation (cognitive map) of the physical environment, humans and other animals also have a social cognitive map. We suggest that while social spatial cognition relies on knowledge of both the physical and the social environments, it is the latter hat predominates. This dominance is illustrated here in the modulation of spatial behavior according to dynamic social interactions, ranging from group formation to an attenuation of drug-induced stereotypy through the mere presence of a normal subject. Consequently we suggest that the numerous studies on the biobehavioral controlling mechanisms of spatial behavior (i.e. - the hippocampal formation, animal models for mental disorders) should also consider the social environment rather than solely focusing on the spatial behavior of lone animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alex Dorfman
- School of Zoology, George S. Wise Faculty of Life-Sciences, Tel-Aviv University, Ramat-Aviv, 6997801, Israel
| | - Omri Weiss
- School of Zoology, George S. Wise Faculty of Life-Sciences, Tel-Aviv University, Ramat-Aviv, 6997801, Israel
| | - Zohar Hagbi
- School of Zoology, George S. Wise Faculty of Life-Sciences, Tel-Aviv University, Ramat-Aviv, 6997801, Israel
| | - Anat Levi
- School of Zoology, George S. Wise Faculty of Life-Sciences, Tel-Aviv University, Ramat-Aviv, 6997801, Israel
| | - David Eilam
- School of Zoology, George S. Wise Faculty of Life-Sciences, Tel-Aviv University, Ramat-Aviv, 6997801, Israel.
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27
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Morrison RE, Hirwa JP, Mucyo JPS, Stoinski TS, Vecellio V, Eckardt W. Inter‐group relationships influence territorial defence in mountain gorillas. J Anim Ecol 2020; 89:2852-2862. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2656.13355] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2020] [Accepted: 08/06/2020] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Robin E. Morrison
- The Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund Musanze Rwanda
- Centre for Research in Animal Behaviour University of Exeter Exeter UK
| | | | | | - Tara S. Stoinski
- The Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund Musanze Rwanda
- The Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund Atlanta GA USA
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28
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Ramis F, Mohr M, Kohn G, Gibson Q, Bashaw M, Maloney D, Maple T. Spatial Design of Guest Feeding Programs and Their Effects on Giraffe Participation and Social Interactions. J APPL ANIM WELF SCI 2020; 25:1-20. [PMID: 33017203 DOI: 10.1080/10888705.2020.1824787] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2020] [Revised: 08/28/2020] [Accepted: 09/13/2020] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
Guest-animal feeding programs (GFPs) in zoological institutions aim to foster human-animal connections. The growing establishment of animal welfare science emphasizes the assessment of GFPs as permanent environmental inputs to habitats that require analysis of behavioral output. This study assessed the role of space allocation on giraffe participation and interactions in GFPs in two Florida zoos.Analysis of social structure indicates that centrality and influence from affiliative network on exhibit shape sharing interactions at GFPs under varying management protocols and designs. Findings suggest that interactions and significant ties among conspecifics are context and potentially temporally dependent. We propose the use of multiple guest engagement stations to maximize space and facilitate feeding opportunities for central and peripheral members. This proposed shift would provide variable feeding opportunities that represent group composition following ecological theory while maximizing points of guest engagement. Results indicate that increasing space allocation for GFPs increased feeding bout length for individuals, percent of time sharing among conspecifics, and reduced average rate of displacement/minute. Cross-institutional comparisons indicate that guest programs with more space allocation have lower rates of conspecific displacement.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fatima Ramis
- Wellness Department, Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens, Jacksonville, FL, USA
- University of North Florida, Jacksonville, FL, USA
| | | | - Gregory Kohn
- University of North Florida, Jacksonville, FL, USA
| | | | - Meredith Bashaw
- Psychology Department, Franklin & Marshall College, Lancaster, PA, USA
| | - Dan Maloney
- Wellness Department, Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens, Jacksonville, FL, USA
| | - Terry Maple
- Wellness Department, Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens, Jacksonville, FL, USA
- University of North Florida, Jacksonville, FL, USA
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29
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Papageorgiou D, Christensen C, Gall GEC, Klarevas-Irby JA, Nyaguthii B, Couzin ID, Farine DR. The multilevel society of a small-brained bird. Curr Biol 2020; 29:R1120-R1121. [PMID: 31689393 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2019.09.072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Animal societies can be organised in multiple hierarchical tiers [1]. Such multilevel societies, where stable groups move together through the landscape, overlapping and associating preferentially with specific other groups, are thought to represent one of the most complex forms of social structure in vertebrates. For example, hamadryas baboons (Papio hamadryas) live in units consisting of one male and one or several females, or of several solitary males, that group into clans. These clans then come together with solitary bachelor males to form larger bands [2]. This social structure means that individuals have to track many different types of relationships at the same time [1,3]. Here, we provide detailed quantitative evidence for the presence of a multilevel society in a small-brained bird, the vulturine guineafowl (Acryllium vulturinum). We demonstrate that this species lives in large, multi-male, multi-female groups that associate preferentially with specific other groups, both during the day and at night-time communal roosts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danai Papageorgiou
- Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior, Department of Collective Behavior, Universitätsstraße 10, Konstanz, 78457, Germany; University of Konstanz, Department of Biology, Universitätsstraße 10, Konstanz, 78457, Germany; University of Konstanz, Center for the Advanced Study of Collective Behaviour, Universitätsstraße 10, Konstanz, 78457, Germany; Kenya Wildlife Service, P.O. Box 40241-001000, Nairobi, Kenya; Department of Ornithology, National Museums of Kenya, P.O. Box 40658-001000, Nairobi, Kenya.
| | - Charlotte Christensen
- Swansea University, Department of Biosciences, Wallace Building, Swansea SA2 8PP, UK
| | - Gabriella E C Gall
- University of Zurich, Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies, Winterthurerstrasse 190, Zurich, 8057, Switzerland
| | - James A Klarevas-Irby
- University of Konstanz, Department of Biology, Universitätsstraße 10, Konstanz, 78457, Germany; University of Konstanz, Center for the Advanced Study of Collective Behaviour, Universitätsstraße 10, Konstanz, 78457, Germany; Kenya Wildlife Service, P.O. Box 40241-001000, Nairobi, Kenya; Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior, Department of Migration, Am Obstberg 1, Radolfzell, 78315, Germany
| | - Brendah Nyaguthii
- University of Eldoret, School of Natural Resource Management, Department of Wildlife, 1125-30100 Eldoret, Kenya; Mpala Research Center, P.O. Box 92, Nanyuki, 10400, Kenya
| | - Iain D Couzin
- Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior, Department of Collective Behavior, Universitätsstraße 10, Konstanz, 78457, Germany; University of Konstanz, Department of Biology, Universitätsstraße 10, Konstanz, 78457, Germany; University of Konstanz, Center for the Advanced Study of Collective Behaviour, Universitätsstraße 10, Konstanz, 78457, Germany
| | - Damien R Farine
- Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior, Department of Collective Behavior, Universitätsstraße 10, Konstanz, 78457, Germany; University of Konstanz, Department of Biology, Universitätsstraße 10, Konstanz, 78457, Germany; University of Konstanz, Center for the Advanced Study of Collective Behaviour, Universitätsstraße 10, Konstanz, 78457, Germany; Department of Ornithology, National Museums of Kenya, P.O. Box 40658-001000, Nairobi, Kenya; Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, Edward Grey Institute of Field Ornithology, Oxford, OX1 3PS, UK.
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30
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Burger AL, Hartig J, Dierkes PW. Shedding light into the dark: Age and light shape nocturnal activity and sleep behaviour of giraffe. Appl Anim Behav Sci 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.applanim.2020.105012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
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31
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Bond ML, König B, Lee DE, Ozgul A, Farine DR. Proximity to humans affects local social structure in a giraffe metapopulation. J Anim Ecol 2020; 90:212-221. [PMID: 32515083 DOI: 10.1111/1365-2656.13247] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2020] [Accepted: 04/14/2020] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Experimental laboratory evidence suggests that animals with disrupted social systems express weakened relationship strengths and have more exclusive social associations, and that these changes have functional consequences. A key question is whether anthropogenic pressures have a similar impact on the social structure of wild animal communities. We addressed this question by constructing a social network from 6 years of systematically collected photographic capture-recapture data spanning 1,139 individual adult female Masai giraffes inhabiting a large, unfenced, heterogeneous landscape in northern Tanzania. We then used the social network to identify distinct social communities, and tested whether social or anthropogenic and other environmental factors predicted differences in social structure among these communities. We reveal that giraffes have a multilevel social structure. Local preferences in associations among individuals scale up to a number of distinct, but spatially overlapping, social communities, that can be viewed as a large interconnected metapopulation. We then find that communities that are closer to traditional compounds of Indigenous Masai people express weaker relationship strengths and the giraffes in these communities are more exclusive in their associations. The patterns we characterize in response to proximity to humans reflect the predictions of disrupted social systems. Near bomas, fuelwood cutting can reduce food resources, and groups of giraffes are more likely to encounter livestock and humans on foot, thus disrupting the social associations among group members. Our results suggest that human presence could potentially be playing an important role in determining the conservation future of this megaherbivore.
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Affiliation(s)
- Monica L Bond
- Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies, University of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland.,Wild Nature Institute, Concord, NH, USA
| | - Barbara König
- Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies, University of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Derek E Lee
- Wild Nature Institute, Concord, NH, USA.,Department of Biology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA
| | - Arpat Ozgul
- Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies, University of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Damien R Farine
- Department of Collective Behavior, Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior, Konstanz, Germany.,Department of Biology, University of Konstanz, Konstanz, Germany.,Center for the Advanced Study of Collective Behaviour, University of Konstanz, Konstanz, Germany
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32
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Grueter CC, Qi X, Zinner D, Bergman T, Li M, Xiang Z, Zhu P, Migliano AB, Miller A, Krützen M, Fischer J, Rubenstein DI, Vidya TNC, Li B, Cantor M, Swedell L. Multilevel Organisation of Animal Sociality. Trends Ecol Evol 2020; 35:834-847. [PMID: 32473744 DOI: 10.1016/j.tree.2020.05.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2019] [Revised: 05/01/2020] [Accepted: 05/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Multilevel societies (MLSs), stable nuclear social units within a larger collective encompassing multiple nested social levels, occur in several mammalian lineages. Their architectural complexity and size impose specific demands on their members requiring adaptive solutions in multiple domains. The functional significance of MLSs lies in their members being equipped to reap the benefits of multiple group sizes. Here, we propose a unifying terminology and operational definition of MLS. To identify new avenues for integrative research, we synthesise current literature on the selective pressures underlying the evolution of MLSs and their implications for cognition, intersexual conflict, and sexual selection. Mapping the drivers and consequences of MLS provides a reference point for the social evolution of many taxa, including our own species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cyril C Grueter
- School of Human Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA 6009, Australia; Centre for Evolutionary Biology, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA 6009, Australia.
| | - Xiaoguang Qi
- Shaanxi Key Laboratory for Animal Conservation, Northwest University, College of Life Sciences, Xi'an, 710069, China.
| | - Dietmar Zinner
- Cognitive Ethology Laboratory, German Primate Center (DPZ), Leibniz Institute for Primate Research, 37077 Göttingen, Germany; Leibniz ScienceCampus for Primate Cognition, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Thore Bergman
- Department of Psychology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA; Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Ming Li
- CAS Key Laboratory of Animal Ecology and Conservation Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100101, China; Center for Excellence in Animal Evolution and Genetics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650223, China
| | - Zuofu Xiang
- College of Life Science and Technology, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha, Hunan 410004, China
| | - Pingfen Zhu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Animal Ecology and Conservation Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100101, China
| | | | - Alex Miller
- School of Human Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA 6009, Australia
| | - Michael Krützen
- Department of Anthropology, University of Zurich, 8057, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Julia Fischer
- Cognitive Ethology Laboratory, German Primate Center (DPZ), Leibniz Institute for Primate Research, 37077 Göttingen, Germany; Department for Primate Cognition, Georg-August-University of Göttingen, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Daniel I Rubenstein
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA
| | - T N C Vidya
- Evolutionary and Organismal Biology Unit, Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research (JNCASR), Jakkur, Bengaluru 560064, India
| | - Baoguo Li
- Shaanxi Key Laboratory for Animal Conservation, Northwest University, College of Life Sciences, Xi'an, 710069, China; Center for Excellence in Animal Evolution and Genetics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650223, China
| | - Maurício Cantor
- Department for the Ecology of Animal Societies, Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior, Konstanz, 78464, Germany; Centre for the Advanced Study of Collective Behaviour, University of Konstanz, Konstanz, 78464, Germany; Department of Biology, University of Konstanz, Konstanz, 78464, Germany; Departamento de Ecologia e Zoologia, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, 88048-970, Brazil; Centro de Estudos do Mar, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Pontal do Paraná, 83255-000, Brazil; School of Animal, Plant and Environmental Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2000, South Africa
| | - Larissa Swedell
- Department of Anthropology, Queens College, City University of New York, Flushing, NY 11367-1597, USA; New York Consortium in Evolutionary Primatology, New York, NY 11367, USA; Anthropology, Biology and Psychology Programs, CUNY Graduate Center, 365 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10016, USA; Department of Archaeology, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, 7701, Cape Town, South Africa
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33
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Miller A, Uddin S, Judge DS, Kaplin BA, Ndayishimiye D, Uwingeneye G, Grueter CC. Spatiotemporal association patterns in a supergroup of Rwenzori black-and-white colobus (Colobus angolensis ruwenzorii) are consistent with a multilevel society. Am J Primatol 2020; 82:e23127. [PMID: 32249977 DOI: 10.1002/ajp.23127] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2019] [Revised: 03/14/2020] [Accepted: 03/18/2020] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Primates display broad diversity in their social organization. The social groups of a few primate species are organized in a multilevel fashion, with large groups composed of multiple, core one-male units (OMUs). A characteristic of multilevel societies is that the higher levels can include hundreds of individuals. The Rwenzori black-and-white colobus (Colobus angolensis ruwenzorii) in the montane forests of Rwanda form supergroups and have been suspected to exhibit multilevel social organization. Here we present the first data on the "anatomy" of a supergroup numbering 500+ individuals. We identified subgroups within the supergroup based on progression data, extracting the social network structure from the time-stamped spatiotemporal distribution of passing individuals identified to age-sex class, and selecting an optimal time window for each network using the two-step approach developed by Uddin, Choudhury, Farhad, and Rahman (2017). We detail the existence of core units-multi-male units (MMUs) with a mean of 1.7 adult males and 3.1 adult females, as well as OMUs, all-female units and bachelor units composed of adult and sub-adult males. More than two-thirds of units are MMUs. These grouping patterns conform to a multilevel society with predominantly multi-male core units, a social system that has recently also been described for a population of the same taxon in Uganda. Individual identification will be required to corroborate these interpretations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alex Miller
- School of Human Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Shahadat Uddin
- Complex Systems Research Group, Faculty of Engineering and Information Technologies, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Debra S Judge
- School of Human Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Beth A Kaplin
- Center of Excellence in Biodiversity & Natural Resource Management, University of Rwanda, Huye, Rwanda.,School for the Environment, University of Massachusetts, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Dieudonne Ndayishimiye
- Center of Excellence in Biodiversity & Natural Resource Management, University of Rwanda, Huye, Rwanda
| | - Grace Uwingeneye
- Center of Excellence in Biodiversity & Natural Resource Management, University of Rwanda, Huye, Rwanda
| | - Cyril C Grueter
- School of Human Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia.,Centre for Evolutionary Biology, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia.,UWA Africa Research & Engagement Centre, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
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Muller Z, Lee DE, Scheijen CPJ, Strauss MKL, Carter KD, Deacon F. Giraffe translocations: A review and discussion of considerations. Afr J Ecol 2020. [DOI: 10.1111/aje.12727] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Zoe Muller
- School of Biological Sciences Life Sciences Building University of Bristol Bristol UK
- Giraffe Research & Conservation Trust Nairobi Kenya
| | - Derek E. Lee
- Wild Nature Institute Concord NH USA
- Mueller Laboratory Department of Biology Pennsylvania State University State College PA USA
| | - Ciska P. J. Scheijen
- Wildlife and Grassland Sciences University of the Free State Bloemfontein South Africa
- Rockwood Conservation Griekwastad South Africa
| | | | - Kerryn D. Carter
- Elephant Connection Kavango Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area Mwandi Zambia
| | - Francois Deacon
- Wildlife and Grassland Sciences University of the Free State Bloemfontein South Africa
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Hart EE, Fennessy J, Chari S, Ciuti S. Habitat heterogeneity and social factors drive behavioral plasticity in giraffe herd-size dynamics. J Mammal 2019. [DOI: 10.1093/jmammal/gyz191] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
AbstractBehavioral plasticity, or the mechanism by which an organism can adjust its behavior in response to exogenous change, has been highlighted as a potential buffer against extinction risk. Giraffes (Giraffa spp.) are gregarious, long-lived, highly mobile megaherbivores with a large brain size, characteristics that have been associated with high levels of behavioral plasticity. However, while there has been a recent focus on genotypic variability and morphological differences among giraffe populations, there has been relatively little discussion centered on behavioral flexibility within giraffe populations. In large wild herbivores, one measure of behavioral plasticity is the ability to adjust herd size in line with local environmental conditions. Here, we examine whether a genetically isolated population of Angolan giraffes (G. g. angolensis) in a heterogeneous environment adjust their herd sizes in line with spatiotemporal variation in habitat. Our results suggest that ecological factors play a role in driving herd size, but that social factors also shape and stabilize herd-size dynamics. Specifically, we found that 1) mixed-sex herds were larger than single-sex herds, suggesting that sexual composition of herds played a role in driving herd size; 2) the presence of young did not influence herd size, suggesting that giraffes did not make use of the dilution effect to safeguard their young from predation; and 3) there was a strong relationship between herd size and spatial, but not seasonal, variation in food biomass availability, suggesting stability in herd sizes over time, but temporary variation in line with resource availability. These findings indicate that giraffes adjust herd size in line with local exogenous factors, signaling high behavioral plasticity, but also suggest that this mechanism operates within the constraints of the social determinants of giraffe herd size.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emma E Hart
- Laboratory of Wildlife Ecology and Behaviour, School of Biology and Environmental Science, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
- Giraffe Conservation Foundation, Windhoek, Namibia
| | | | - Srivats Chari
- Laboratory of Wildlife Ecology and Behaviour, School of Biology and Environmental Science, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Simone Ciuti
- Laboratory of Wildlife Ecology and Behaviour, School of Biology and Environmental Science, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
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Prehn SG, Laesser BE, Clausen CG, Jønck K, Dabelsteen T, Brask JB. Seasonal variation and stability across years in a social network of wild giraffe. Anim Behav 2019. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2019.08.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
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Stead SM, Teichroeb JA. A multi-level society comprised of one-male and multi-male core units in an African colobine (Colobus angolensis ruwenzorii). PLoS One 2019; 14:e0217666. [PMID: 31618212 PMCID: PMC6795445 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0217666] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2019] [Accepted: 10/01/2019] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Several mammalian species exhibit complex, nested social organizations, termed multi-level or modular societies. Multi-level societies comprise stable core units that fission and fuse with one another in a hierarchical manner, forming groups that vary in size over time. Among nonhuman primates, these social systems have been confirmed in several African papionin and Asian colobine species. We use data from August 2017 to July 2018 on individually-recognized Rwenzori Angolan colobus living near Lake Nabugabo, Uganda to document the first multi-level society in an African colobine. The study band comprised up to 135 individuals organized into 12 socially and spatially distinct core units that ranged in size from 4 to 23 individuals. These core units showed a strong affinity to one another, spending roughly 75% of their time together. Core units fissioned and fused non-randomly with one another throughout the day, leading to different combinations of core units being observed. Using association indices between core units, we employed hierarchical cluster analyses and permutation tests to show that some core units associated preferentially into clans. Thus, we confirm three tiers of social organization for Rwenzori Angolan colobus: core unit, clan, and band. The social organization of this subspecies is unlike any reported previously in a nonhuman primate, with about half the core units containing a single adult male and the others containing multiple reproductive adult males. The discovery of a unique primate multi-level society in a novel lineage could allow for a better understanding of the evolution of these complex social systems across the Animal Kingdom. Preliminary data show males transfer within the band and females transfer outside of the band, which is proposed for hominin multi-level societies. This subspecies could thus also provide insight into the selective pressures underlying multi-level societies in our own lineage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samantha M Stead
- Department of Anthropology, University of Toronto Scarborough, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- School of the Environment, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Julie A Teichroeb
- Department of Anthropology, University of Toronto Scarborough, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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D'haen M, Fennessy J, Stabach JA, Brandlová K. Population structure and spatial ecology of Kordofan giraffe in Garamba National Park, Democratic Republic of Congo. Ecol Evol 2019; 9:11395-11405. [PMID: 31641481 PMCID: PMC6802069 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.5640] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2019] [Revised: 08/09/2019] [Accepted: 08/11/2019] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Population numbers of Kordofan giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis antiquorum) have declined throughout its range by more than 85% in the last three decades, including in the isolated easternmost population found in the Garamba National Park (NP) in the Democratic Republic of Congo.We provide new data on the conservation status and ecology of Kordofan giraffe in Garamba NP, specifically on the current population dynamics, distribution patterns, and spatial ecology for informed conservation management decisions.Data were gathered between September 26, 2016, and August 17, 2017, through direct observation and from eight GPS satellite collars deployed in early 2016. Movements, distribution patterns, and autocorrelated kernel density home ranges were estimated using the Continuous-Time Movement Modeling (CTMM) framework. We then compared results with home ranges calculated using the kernel density estimation (95% KDE) method.The Garamba NP population was estimated to be 45 giraffe with a female-dominated sex ratio (35% males; 65% females), and adult-dominated age class ratio (11.2% juveniles; 17.7% subadults; 71.1% adults). The giraffe's distribution was limited to the south-central sector of the Park, and giraffe were divided over different areas with some degree of connectivity. The average giraffe home range size was 934.3 km2 using AKDE and 268.8 km2 using KDE. Both methods have shown surprisingly large home ranges despite of the relatively high humidity of Garamba NP.Based on the outcomes of this research, urgent conservation action is needed to protect Garamba's remaining giraffe population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mathias D'haen
- Garamba National ParkNageroDemocratic Republic of the Congo
- African Parks NetworkJohannesburgSouth Africa
- Department of Animal Science and Food ProcessingFaculty of Tropical AgriSciencesCzech University of Life Sciences PraguePragueCzechia
| | | | - Jared A. Stabach
- Conservation Ecology CenterSmithsonian National Zoo & Conservation Biology InstituteFront RoyalVAUSA
| | - Karolína Brandlová
- Department of Animal Science and Food ProcessingFaculty of Tropical AgriSciencesCzech University of Life Sciences PraguePragueCzechia
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Fission-fusion dynamics of a megaherbivore are driven by ecological, anthropogenic, temporal, and social factors. Oecologia 2019; 191:335-347. [PMID: 31451928 DOI: 10.1007/s00442-019-04485-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2018] [Accepted: 08/08/2019] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
Fission-fusion dynamics hypothetically enable animals to exploit dispersed and ephemeral food resources while minimizing predation risk. Disentangling factors affecting group size and composition of fission-fusion species facilitates their management and conservation. We used a 6-year data set of 2888 group formations of Masai giraffes in Tanzania to investigate determinants of social group size and structure. We tested whether ecological (lion density, vegetation structure, and prevalence of primary forage plants), anthropogenic (proximity to human settlements), temporal (rainy or dry season), and social (local giraffe density, adult sex ratio, and proportion of calves) factors explained variation in group size and sex- and age-class composition. Food availability rather than predation risk mediated grouping dynamics of adult giraffes, while predation risk was the most important factor influencing congregations with calves. Smallest group sizes occurred during the food-limiting dry season. Where predation risk was greatest, groups with calves were in bushlands more than in open grasslands, but the groups were smaller in size, suggesting mothers adopted a strategy of hiding calves rather than a predator-detection-and-dilution strategy. Groups with calves also were farther from towns but closer to traditional human compounds (bomas). This may be due to lower predator densities, and thus reduced calf predation risk, near bomas but higher human disturbance near towns. Sex- and age-based differences in habitat use reflected nursing mothers' need for high-quality forage while also protecting their young from predation. Our results have implications for conservation and management of giraffes and other large-bodied, herd-forming ungulates in heterogeneous environments subject to anthropogenic threats.
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Muller Z, Cuthill IC, Harris S. Giraffe (
Giraffa camelopardalis
) social networks in areas of contrasting human activity and lion density. Ethology 2019. [DOI: 10.1111/eth.12923] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Zoe Muller
- School of Biological Sciences University of Bristol Bristol UK
- Giraffe Research & Conservation Trust Nairobi Kenya
| | | | - Stephen Harris
- School of Biological Sciences University of Bristol Bristol UK
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Balasubramaniam KN, Beisner BA, Hubbard JA, Vandeleest JJ, Atwill ER, McCowan B. Affiliation and disease risk: social networks mediate gut microbial transmission among rhesus macaques. Anim Behav 2019; 151:131-143. [PMID: 32831349 PMCID: PMC7434028 DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2019.03.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
In social animals, affiliative behaviours bring many benefits, but also costs such as disease risk. The ways in which affiliation may affect the risk of infectious agent transmission remain unclear. Moreover, studies linking variation in affiliative interactions to infectious agent incidence/diversity have speculated that disease transmission may have occurred, rather than revealing that transmission did occur. We address these gaps using the phylogenetics of commensal gut Escherichia coli to determine whether affiliative grooming and huddling social networks mediated microbial transmission among rhesus macaques. We collected behavioural and microbial data from adult macaques across a 12-week period that was split into two 6-week phases to better detect dyadic transmission. We reconstructed undirected social networks from affiliative interactions and reconstructed microbial transmission networks from the pairwise phylogenetic similarity of E. coli pulsotypes from macaques within and across adjacent sampling events. Macaque E. coli pulsotypes were more phylogenetically similar to each other than to environmental isolates, which established a premise for socially mediated transmission. Dyadic grooming and huddling frequencies strongly influenced the likelihood of E. coli transmission during the second data collection phase, but not the first. Macaques that were more central/well connected in both their grooming and huddling networks were also more central in the E. coli transmission networks. Our results confirmed that affiliative grooming and huddling behaviours mediate the transmission of gut microbes among rhesus macaques, particularly among females and high-ranking individuals. The detectability of socially mediated E. coli transmission maybe partially masked by environmental acquisition in males, or by high frequencies of interactions in captivity. Predicting the potential transmission pathways of gastrointestinal parasites and pathogens, our findings add to current knowledge of the coevolutionary relationships between affiliative behaviour and health and may be used to identify 'superspreader' individuals as potential targets for disease control strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Krishna N. Balasubramaniam
- Department of Population Health & Reproduction, School
of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA, U.S.A
| | - Brianne A. Beisner
- Department of Population Health & Reproduction, School
of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA, U.S.A
- Neuroscience & Behavior Unit, California National
Primate Research Center, University of California, Davis, CA, U.S.A
| | - Josephine A. Hubbard
- Department of Population Health & Reproduction, School
of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA, U.S.A
- Animal Behavior Graduate Group, University of California,
Davis, CA, U.S.A
| | - Jessica J. Vandeleest
- Department of Population Health & Reproduction, School
of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA, U.S.A
- Neuroscience & Behavior Unit, California National
Primate Research Center, University of California, Davis, CA, U.S.A
| | - Edward R. Atwill
- Department of Population Health & Reproduction, School
of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA, U.S.A
| | - Brenda McCowan
- Department of Population Health & Reproduction, School
of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA, U.S.A
- Neuroscience & Behavior Unit, California National
Primate Research Center, University of California, Davis, CA, U.S.A
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Lewton J, Rose PE. Evaluating the social structure of captive Rothschild’s giraffes (Giraffa camelopardalis rothschildi): Relevance to animal management and animal welfare. J APPL ANIM WELF SCI 2019; 23:178-192. [DOI: 10.1080/10888705.2019.1573682] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Jack Lewton
- School of Science and the Environment, Faculty of Science & Engineering, John Dalton Building, Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester, UK
| | - Paul E. Rose
- Centre for Research in Animal Behaviour, College of Life & Environmental Sciences, Washington Singer Labs, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK
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44
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Assessing Transmission of Antimicrobial-Resistant Escherichia coli in Wild Giraffe Contact Networks. Appl Environ Microbiol 2018; 85:AEM.02136-18. [PMID: 30413480 DOI: 10.1128/aem.02136-18] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2018] [Accepted: 10/11/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
There is growing evidence that anthropogenic sources of antibiotics and antimicrobial-resistant bacteria can spill over into natural ecosystems, raising questions about the role wild animals play in the emergence, maintenance, and dispersal of antibiotic resistance genes. In particular, we lack an understanding of how resistance genes circulate within wild animal populations, including whether specific host characteristics, such as social associations, promote interhost transmission of these genes. In this study, we used social network analysis to explore the forces shaping population-level patterns of resistant Escherichia coli in wild giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis) and assess the relative importance of social contact for the dissemination of resistant E. coli between giraffe. Of 195 giraffe sampled, only 5.1% harbored E. coli isolates resistant to one or more tested antibiotics. Whole-genome sequencing on a subset of resistant isolates revealed a number of acquired resistance genes with linkages to mobile genetic elements. However, we found no evidence that the spread of resistance genes among giraffe was facilitated by interhost associations. Giraffe with lower social degree were more likely to harbor resistant E. coli, but this relationship was likely driven by a correlation between an individual's social connectedness and age. Indeed, resistant E. coli was most frequently detected in socially isolated neonates, indicating that resistant E. coli may have a selective advantage in the gastrointestinal tracts of neonates compared to other age classes. Taken together, these results suggest that the maintenance of antimicrobial-resistant bacteria in wild populations may, in part, be determined by host traits and microbial competition dynamics within the host.IMPORTANCE Antimicrobial resistance represents a significant threat to human health, food security, and the global economy. To fully understand the evolution and dissemination of resistance genes, a complete picture of antimicrobial resistance in all biological compartments, including natural ecosystems, is required. The environment and wild animals may act as reservoirs for anthropogenically derived resistance genes that could be transferrable to clinically relevant bacteria of humans and domestic animals. Our study investigated the possible transmission mechanisms for antimicrobial-resistant bacteria within a wild animal population and, more broadly, contributes to our understanding of how resistance genes are spread and maintained in natural ecosystems.
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Dufour CMS, Pillay N, Avenant N, Watson J, Loire E, Ganem G. Habitat characteristics and species interference influence space use and nest‐site occupancy: implications for social variation in two sister species. OIKOS 2018. [DOI: 10.1111/oik.05357] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Claire M. S. Dufour
- ISEM, CNRS, Univ. of Montpellier, IRD, EPHE Montpellier France
- School of Animal, Plant and Environmental Science, Univ. of the Witwatersrand Wits South Africa
- Museum of Comparative Zoology, Dept of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Harvard Univ Cambridge MA USA
| | - Neville Pillay
- School of Animal, Plant and Environmental Science, Univ. of the Witwatersrand Wits South Africa
| | - Nico Avenant
- Dept of Mammalogy, National Museum, and Centre for Environmental Management, Univ. of the Free State Bloemfontein South Africa
| | - Johan Watson
- Dept of Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs, Biodiversity Research Bloemfontein South Africa
| | - Etienne Loire
- Centre de Coopération Internationale en Recherche Agronomique pour le Développement (CIRAD), UMR, CMAEE, C2B Montpellier France
| | - Guila Ganem
- ISEM, CNRS, Univ. of Montpellier, IRD, EPHE Montpellier France
- School of Animal, Plant and Environmental Science, Univ. of the Witwatersrand Wits South Africa
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47
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Lee DE, Cavener DR, Bond ML. Seeing spots: quantifying mother-offspring similarity and assessing fitness consequences of coat pattern traits in a wild population of giraffes ( Giraffa camelopardalis). PeerJ 2018; 6:e5690. [PMID: 30310743 PMCID: PMC6173159 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.5690] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2018] [Accepted: 09/04/2018] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Polymorphic phenotypes of mammalian coat coloration have been important to the study of genetics and evolution, but less is known about the inheritance and fitness consequences of individual variation in complex coat pattern traits such as spots and stripes. Giraffe coat markings are highly complex and variable and it has been hypothesized that variation in coat patterns most likely affects fitness by camouflaging neonates against visually hunting predators. We quantified complex coat pattern traits of wild Masai giraffes using image analysis software, determined the similarity of spot pattern traits between mother and offspring, and assessed whether variation in spot pattern traits was related to fitness as measured by juvenile survival. The methods we described could comprise a framework for objective quantification of complex mammal coat pattern traits based on photographic coat pattern data. We demonstrated that some characteristics of giraffe coat spot shape were likely to be heritable, as measured by mother-offspring regression. We found significant variation in juvenile survival among phenotypic groups of neonates defined by multivariate clustering based on spot trait measurement variables. We also found significant variation in neonatal survival associated with spot size and shape covariates. Larger spots (smaller number of spots) and irregularly shaped or rounder spots (smaller aspect ratio) were correlated with increased survival. These findings will inform investigations into developmental and genetic architecture of complex mammal coat patterns and their adaptive value.
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Affiliation(s)
- Derek E Lee
- Wild Nature Institute, Concord, NH, United States of America.,Department of Biology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, United States of America
| | - Douglas R Cavener
- Department of Biology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, United States of America
| | - Monica L Bond
- Wild Nature Institute, Concord, NH, United States of America.,Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies, University of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
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48
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Social cohesion and intra-population community structure in southern Australian bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops sp.). Behav Ecol Sociobiol 2018. [DOI: 10.1007/s00265-018-2557-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
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49
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Muller Z, Cuthill IC, Harris S. Group sizes of giraffes in Kenya: the influence of habitat, predation and the age and sex of individuals. J Zool (1987) 2018. [DOI: 10.1111/jzo.12571] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Z. Muller
- School of Biological Sciences; Life Sciences Building; University of Bristol; Bristol UK
| | - I. C. Cuthill
- School of Biological Sciences; Life Sciences Building; University of Bristol; Bristol UK
| | - S. Harris
- School of Biological Sciences; Life Sciences Building; University of Bristol; Bristol UK
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50
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Deacon F, Bercovitch FB. Movement patterns and herd dynamics among South African giraffes (Giraffa camelopardalis giraffa). Afr J Ecol 2018. [DOI: 10.1111/aje.12514] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Francois Deacon
- Department of Animal, Wildlife, and Grassland Sciences; University of the Free State; Bloemfontein South Africa
| | - Fred B. Bercovitch
- Department of Animal, Wildlife, and Grassland Sciences; University of the Free State; Bloemfontein South Africa
- Wildlife Research Center; Kyoto University; Inuyama Aichi Japan
- Save the Giraffes Organisation; San Antonio TX USA
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