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Ren S, Liu S, Sun W, Gao L, Ren L, Liu J, Zhang W, Xia D, Sun B, Li J, Wang X. Consistent Individual Differences Drive Collective Movements in a Tibetan Macaque Group. Animals (Basel) 2024; 14:1476. [PMID: 38791693 PMCID: PMC11117288 DOI: 10.3390/ani14101476] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2024] [Revised: 05/13/2024] [Accepted: 05/14/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Collective movement has emerged as a key area of interest in animal behavior. While individual differences are often viewed as a potential threat to group cohesion, growing evidence suggests that these differences can actually influence an animal's behavior as an initiator or follower during collective movements, thereby driving the group's movement and decision-making processes. To resolve the divergence, we asked how personality can affect the dynamics of collective movements in one group of free-ranging Tibetan macaques (Macaca thibetana) in Huangshan, China. We assessed individual personality using principal component analysis and applied the generalized linear mixed model and linear mixed model to examine the influence of personality on decision making during collective movements. Our findings reveled three distinct personality types among Tibetan macaques: sociability, boldness, and anxiousness. Individuals with higher sociability scores and rank, or those with lower anxiousness scores, were more likely to initiate successful collective movements. Older individuals were less successful in initiating movements compared to young adults. Leaders with lower anxiousness scores or higher rank attracted more followers, with females attracting larger groups than males. As for followers, individuals with higher rank tended to join the collective movement earlier. Additionally, individuals with higher sociability or boldness scores had shorter joining latency in collective movement. Finally, there was a longer joining latency for middle-aged adults compared to young adults. These results suggest that individual differences are a potential driver of collective movements. We provide some insights into the relationships between personality and decision making in Tibetan macaques.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sen Ren
- School of Resources and Environmental Engineering, Anhui University, Hefei 230601, China
- International Collaborative Research Center for Huangshan Biodiversity and Tibetan Macaque Behavioral Ecology, Hefei 230601, China
| | - Shenqi Liu
- School of Resources and Environmental Engineering, Anhui University, Hefei 230601, China
- International Collaborative Research Center for Huangshan Biodiversity and Tibetan Macaque Behavioral Ecology, Hefei 230601, China
| | - Wenkai Sun
- School of Resources and Environmental Engineering, Anhui University, Hefei 230601, China
| | - Lei Gao
- School of Resources and Environmental Engineering, Anhui University, Hefei 230601, China
| | - Lei Ren
- School of Resources and Environmental Engineering, Anhui University, Hefei 230601, China
| | - Jiahui Liu
- School of Resources and Environmental Engineering, Anhui University, Hefei 230601, China
| | - Weiqi Zhang
- School of Resources and Environmental Engineering, Anhui University, Hefei 230601, China
| | - Dongpo Xia
- International Collaborative Research Center for Huangshan Biodiversity and Tibetan Macaque Behavioral Ecology, Hefei 230601, China
- School of Life Sciences, Anhui University, Hefei 230601, China
| | - Binghua Sun
- School of Resources and Environmental Engineering, Anhui University, Hefei 230601, China
- International Collaborative Research Center for Huangshan Biodiversity and Tibetan Macaque Behavioral Ecology, Hefei 230601, China
| | - Jinhua Li
- School of Resources and Environmental Engineering, Anhui University, Hefei 230601, China
- International Collaborative Research Center for Huangshan Biodiversity and Tibetan Macaque Behavioral Ecology, Hefei 230601, China
- School of Life Sciences, Hefei Normal University, Hefei 230601, China
| | - Xi Wang
- School of Resources and Environmental Engineering, Anhui University, Hefei 230601, China
- International Collaborative Research Center for Huangshan Biodiversity and Tibetan Macaque Behavioral Ecology, Hefei 230601, China
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2
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Song Y, Kim J, Park Y, Yoon M. Association between the plasma concentration of melatonin and behavioral temperament in horses. JOURNAL OF ANIMAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY 2023; 65:1094-1104. [PMID: 37969346 PMCID: PMC10640934 DOI: 10.5187/jast.2023.e12] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2022] [Revised: 01/17/2023] [Accepted: 01/22/2023] [Indexed: 11/17/2023]
Abstract
Aggression in horses may cause serious accidents during riding and non-riding activities. Hence, predicting the temperament of horses is essential for selecting suitable horses and ensuring safety during the activity. In certain animals, such as hamsters, plasma melatonin concentrations have been correlated with aggressive behavior. However, whether this relationship applies to horses remains unclear. To address this research gap, this study aimed to evaluate differences in the plasma melatonin concentrations among horses of different breeds, ages, and sexes and examine the correlation between plasma melatonin concentrations and the temperament of the horses, including docility, affinity, dominance, and trainability. Blood samples from 32 horses were collected from the Horse Industry Complex Center of Jeonju Kijeon College. The docility, affinity, dominance, and trainability of the horses were assessed by three professional trainers who were well-acquainted with the horses. Plasma melatonin concentrations were measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The consequent values were compared between the horses of different breeds, ages, and sexes using a three-way analysis of variance and least significant difference post hoc test. Linear regression analysis was employed to identify the relationship between plasma melatonin concentrations and docility, affinity, dominance, and trainability. The results showed that the plasma melatonin concentrations significantly differed with breeds in Thoroughbred and cold-blooded horses. However, there were no differences in the plasma melatonin concentrations between the horse ages and sexes. Furthermore, plasma melatonin concentrations did not exhibit a significant correlation with the ranking of docility, affinity, dominance, and trainability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yubin Song
- Department of Animal Science and
Biotechnology, Kyungpook National University, Sangju 37224,
Korea
| | - Junyoung Kim
- Department of Animal Science and
Biotechnology, Kyungpook National University, Sangju 37224,
Korea
| | - Youngjae Park
- Department of Equine Industry and Sports
with Therapeutic Riding, Jeonju Kijeon College, Jeonju 54989,
Korea
| | - Minjung Yoon
- Department of Animal Science and
Biotechnology, Kyungpook National University, Sangju 37224,
Korea
- Department of Horse, Companion and Wild
Animal Science, Kyungpook National University, Sangju 37224,
Korea
- Research Center for Horse Industry,
Kyungpook National University, Sangju 37224, Korea
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3
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Janicka W, Wilk I, Próchniak T. Does social motivation mitigate fear caused by a sudden sound in horses? Anim Cogn 2023; 26:1649-1660. [PMID: 37450226 PMCID: PMC10442260 DOI: 10.1007/s10071-023-01805-x] [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: 02/11/2023] [Revised: 06/01/2023] [Accepted: 06/23/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023]
Abstract
Living in a herd has multiple advantages for social species and is a primary survival strategy for prey. The presence of conspecifics, identified as a social buffer, may mitigate the individual stress response. Social isolation is, therefore, particularly stressful for horses, which are gregarious animals. However, they are not equally vulnerable to separation from the group. We tested whether more and less socially dependent horses and independent individuals would differ in their responses to novel and sudden sounds occurring in two contexts: non-social and social motivation. Twenty warmblood horses were first exposed to two social tests: to evaluate the level of social dependence (rate of restless behaviour; social isolation) and the quantity and the quality of interactions in which they were involved (stay on a paddock). Two fear audio tests were then performed to compare the responses to sudden sounds while feeding (non-social motivation; control trial) and while moving towards the herd (social motivation; experimental trial). Socially dependent horses showed more pronounced avoidance behaviour and needed much more time to resume feeding during the control trial. Hence, dependent individuals appeared to be more fearful. However, during an experimental trial, horses of both groups tended to ignore the sound or paid only limited attention to the stimulus, continuing to move forward towards their conspecifics. Thus, social motivation may mitigate fear caused by a frightening stimulus and make fearful and dependent horses more prone to face a potentially stressful event. This finding should be taken into account in horse training and management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wiktoria Janicka
- Department of Horse Breeding and Use, University of Life Sciences in Lublin, 13 Akademicka Street, Lublin, Poland
| | - Izabela Wilk
- Department of Horse Breeding and Use, University of Life Sciences in Lublin, 13 Akademicka Street, Lublin, Poland.
| | - Tomasz Próchniak
- Institute of Biological Basis of Animal Production, University of Life Sciences in Lublin, 13 Akademicka Street, Lublin, Poland
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4
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Papadaki K, Laliotis GP, Koutsouli P, Bizelis I. Association of personality traits with maintenance and social behaviour of rams (Ovis aries). Small Rumin Res 2023. [DOI: 10.1016/j.smallrumres.2023.106928] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
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5
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Does a high social status confer greater levels of trust from groupmates? An experimental study of leadership in domestic horses. Behav Processes 2022; 201:104708. [PMID: 35872161 DOI: 10.1016/j.beproc.2022.104708] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2022] [Revised: 06/16/2022] [Accepted: 07/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
In collective movements, specific individuals may emerge as leaders. In this study on the domestic horse (Equus ferus caballus), we conducted experiments to establish if an individual is successfully followed due to its social status (including hierarchical rank and centrality). We first informed one horse about a hidden food location and recorded by how many it was followed when going back to this location. In this context, all horses lead their groupmates successfully. In a second step, we tested whether group members would trust some leaders more than others by removing the food before the informed individual led the group back to the food location. In addition, two control initiators with intermediate social status for which the food was not removed were tested. The results, confirmed by simulations, demonstrated that the proportions of followers for the unreliable initiator with highest social status are greater than the ones of the unreliable initiator with lowest social status. Our results suggest an existing relationship between having a high social status and a leadership role. Indeed, the status of a leader sometimes prevail at the detriment of the accuracy of the information, because an elevated social status apparently confers a high level of trust.
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Jolivald A, Yarnell K, Hall C, Ijichi C. Do you see what I see? Investigating the validity of an equine personality questionnaire. Appl Anim Behav Sci 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.applanim.2022.105567] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
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8
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Hirata M, Matsubara A, Uchimura M. Effects of group composition on social foraging in cattle: inclusion of a leader cow in replacement of a follower facilitates expansion of grazing distribution patterns of beef cows. J ETHOL 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s10164-021-00731-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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9
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Maeda T, Sueur C, Hirata S, Yamamoto S. Behavioural synchronization in a multilevel society of feral horses. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0258944. [PMID: 34699556 PMCID: PMC8547633 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0258944] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2021] [Accepted: 10/06/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Behavioural synchrony among individuals is essential for group-living organisms. The functioning of synchronization in a multilevel society, which is a nested assemblage of multiple social levels between many individuals, remains largely unknown. The aim of the present study was to build a model that explained the synchronization of activity in a multilevel society of feral horses. Multi-agent-based models were used based on four hypotheses: A) horses do not synchronize, B) horses synchronize with any individual in any unit, C) horses synchronize only within units, and D) horses synchronize across and within units, but internal synchronization is stronger. The empirical data obtained from drone observations best supported hypothesis D. This result suggests that animals in a multilevel society coordinate with other conspecifics not only within a unit but also at an inter-unit level. In this case, inter-individual distances are much longer than those in most previous models which only considered local interaction within a few body lengths.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tamao Maeda
- Wildlife Research Centre, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
- * E-mail:
| | - Cédric Sueur
- Institut Pluridisciplinaire Hubert Curien, Université de Strasbourg, CNRS, Strasbourg, France
- Institut Universitaire de France, Paris, France
| | - Satoshi Hirata
- Wildlife Research Centre, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Shinya Yamamoto
- Wildlife Research Centre, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
- Institute for Advanced Study, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
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10
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11
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Movement orders in spontaneous group movements in cattle: 6-year monitoring of a beef cow herd with changing composition. J ETHOL 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s10164-021-00700-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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12
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Planas-Sitjà I, Deneubourg JL, Cronin AL. Variation in personality can substitute for social feedback in coordinated animal movements. Commun Biol 2021; 4:469. [PMID: 33850250 PMCID: PMC8044162 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-021-01991-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2020] [Accepted: 03/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Collective movements are essential for the effective function of animal societies, but are complicated by the need for consensus among group members. Consensus is typically assumed to arise via feedback mechanisms, but this ignores inter-individual variation in behavioural tendency ('personality'), which is known to underpin the successful function of many complex societies. In this study, we use a theoretical approach to examine the relative importance of personality and feedback in the emergence of collective movement decisions in animal groups. Our results show that variation in personality dramatically influences collective decisions and can partially or completely replace feedback depending on the directionality of relationships among individuals. The influence of personality increases with the exaggeration of differences among individuals. While it is likely that both feedback and personality interact in nature, our findings highlight the potential importance of personality in driving collective processes.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jean-Louis Deneubourg
- Center of Nonlinear Phenomena and Complex Systems (CENOLI) - CP 231, Université libre de Bruxelles, Bruxelles, Belgium
| | - Adam L Cronin
- Department of Biology, Tokyo Metropolitan University, Tokyo, Japan
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13
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Briard L, Deneubourg JL, Petit O. Group behaviours and individual spatial sorting before departure predict the dynamics of collective movements in horses. Anim Behav 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2021.01.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
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14
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Loftus JC, Perez AA, Sih A. Task syndromes: linking personality and task allocation in social animal groups. Behav Ecol 2021; 32:1-17. [PMID: 33708004 PMCID: PMC7937036 DOI: 10.1093/beheco/araa083] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2018] [Revised: 08/04/2020] [Accepted: 08/07/2020] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Studies of eusocial insects have extensively investigated two components of task allocation: how individuals distribute themselves among different tasks in a colony and how the distribution of labor changes to meet fluctuating task demand. While discrete age- and morphologically-based task allocation systems explain much of the social order in these colonies, the basis for task allocation in non-eusocial organisms and within eusocial castes remains unknown. Building from recent advances in the study of among-individual variation in behavior (i.e., animal personalities), we explore a potential mechanism by which individuality in behaviors unrelated to tasks can guide the developmental trajectories that lead to task specialization. We refer to the task-based behavioral syndrome that results from the correlation between the antecedent behavioral tendencies and task participation as a task syndrome. In this review, we present a framework that integrates concepts from a long history of task allocation research in eusocial organisms with recent findings from animal personality research to elucidate how task syndromes and resulting task allocation might manifest in animal groups. By drawing upon an extensive and diverse literature to evaluate the hypothesized framework, this review identifies future areas for study at the intersection of social behavior and animal personality.
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Affiliation(s)
- J C Loftus
- Department of Anthropology, University of California at Davis, Davis, CA, USA.,Department for the Ecology of Animal Societies, Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior, Radolfzell, Germany.,Department of Biology, University of Konstanz, Konstanz, Germany.,Centre for the Advanced Study of Collective Behaviour, University of Konstanz, Konstanz, Germany
| | - A A Perez
- Department of Entomology, University of California at Davis, Davis, CA, USA
| | - A Sih
- Department of Environmental Science and Policy, University of California at Davis, Davis, CA, USA
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15
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Burattini B, Fenner K, Anzulewicz A, Romness N, McKenzie J, Wilson B, McGreevy P. Age-Related Changes in the Behaviour of Domestic Horses as Reported by Owners. Animals (Basel) 2020; 10:ani10122321. [PMID: 33297447 PMCID: PMC7762420 DOI: 10.3390/ani10122321] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2020] [Revised: 12/01/2020] [Accepted: 12/03/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Some treatments for common problem behaviours in domestic horses can compromise horse welfare. Such behaviours can be the manifestation of pain, confusion and conflict. In contrast, among the desirable attributes in horses, boldness and independence are two important behavioural traits that affect the fearfulness, assertiveness and sociability of horses when interacting with their environment, objects, conspecifics and humans. Shy and socially dependent horses are generally more difficult to manage and train than their bold and independent counterparts. Previous studies have shown how certain basic temperament traits predict the behavioural output of horses, but few have investigated how the age of the horse and the age it was when started being trained under saddle affect behaviour. Using 1940 responses to the Equine Behaviour Assessment and Research Questionnaire (E-BARQ), the current study explored the behavioural evidence of boldness and independence in horses and how these related to the age of the horse. Results revealed age-related effects on boldness and independence of horses. Older horses were bolder than younger horses, but horses started under saddle at an older age were less bold and independent than those started at a younger age. Additionally, significant differences in boldness and independence relating to specific breeds and primary equestrian disciplines also emerged. Finally, riders with eight or more years of riding experience reported having more independent horses than those who had ridden their whole lives. Understanding how horses’ ages affect behavioural traits can improve horse–rider matching and potentially also optimise welfare. Abstract The broad traits of boldness and independence in domestic horses can affect their usefulness and, indirectly, their welfare. The objective of the current study was to explore associations between attributes that reflect equine boldness and independence with both the age of horses and the age at which they were started under saddle, as well as other variables including breed, colour and primary equestrian discipline. All data were sourced from responses (n = 1940) to the 97-question online Equine Behaviour Assessment and Research Questionnaire (E-BARQ). Twenty E-BARQ items from the dataset were selected to reflect boldness and independence and were tested for univariate significance at p < 0.2. Multivariable modelling of the effect of age on remaining traits was assessed by an ordinal logistic regression, using a cumulative log odds model. This revealed that older horses were bolder (p = 0.012). However, horses started under saddle at an older age were less bold and less independent (p = 0.040 and p = 0.010, respectively). Australian Stock Horses were bolder and more independent (p = 0.014 and p = 0.007, respectively) than crossbreed horses. Horses used for breeding conformation (p = 0.039), working equitation (p = 0.045), eventing (p = 0.044) and traditional working horses (p = 0.034) were bolder than those used for other disciplines. Dressage (p = 0.039) and therapy (p = 0.040) horses were less bold than horses used for other disciplines. Stallions were bolder (p = −0.034) than geldings. Brown (p = 0.049) and chestnut (p = 0.027) horses were less bold than bay horses. Compared to crossbreed horses, Thoroughbreds (p = 0.000) and companion horses (p = 0.017) were less bold whilst heavy horses (p = 0.029) and ponies (p = 0.044) were bolder. Compared to pleasure horses, mounted games horses (p = 0.033) were less independent whereas working equitation horses (p = 0.020) were more independent. Riders with more than eight years’ experience reported more independence in their horses (p = 0.015) than those who had ridden their whole lives. The study findings suggest that boldness and independence are separate traits and only boldness was associated with the age of the horse. Factors that relate to desirable boldness and independence are important in ridden horses because they can affect rider safety. Results from this study should improve horse–rider matching and thereby potentially enhance horse welfare.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bibiana Burattini
- Sydney School of Veterinary Science, Faculty of Science, University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW 2006, Australia; (K.F.); (A.A.); (N.R.); (B.W.); (P.M.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +61-409-326-343
| | - Kate Fenner
- Sydney School of Veterinary Science, Faculty of Science, University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW 2006, Australia; (K.F.); (A.A.); (N.R.); (B.W.); (P.M.)
| | - Ashley Anzulewicz
- Sydney School of Veterinary Science, Faculty of Science, University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW 2006, Australia; (K.F.); (A.A.); (N.R.); (B.W.); (P.M.)
| | - Nicole Romness
- Sydney School of Veterinary Science, Faculty of Science, University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW 2006, Australia; (K.F.); (A.A.); (N.R.); (B.W.); (P.M.)
| | - Jessica McKenzie
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW 2006, Australia;
| | - Bethany Wilson
- Sydney School of Veterinary Science, Faculty of Science, University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW 2006, Australia; (K.F.); (A.A.); (N.R.); (B.W.); (P.M.)
| | - Paul McGreevy
- Sydney School of Veterinary Science, Faculty of Science, University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW 2006, Australia; (K.F.); (A.A.); (N.R.); (B.W.); (P.M.)
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17
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The Contribution of Mutual Grooming to Affiliative Relationships in a Feral Misaki Horse Herd. Animals (Basel) 2020; 10:ani10091564. [PMID: 32899116 PMCID: PMC7552250 DOI: 10.3390/ani10091564] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2020] [Revised: 08/23/2020] [Accepted: 08/31/2020] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Social grooming strengthens affiliative relationships between participants in many social primates. Three hypotheses regarding the function of mutual grooming in feral horses were tested: the affiliative relationship strengthening hypothesis, the worsened relationship restoring hypothesis, and the parasite removal hypothesis. All the nine horses in the “6m” herd in a Misaki feral horse (Equus caballus) herd in Cape Toi, Japan, were investigated in terms of kinship, grooming, aggression, proximity, social rank, and social network. The correlations between mutual grooming and proximity and between aggression and proximity were established mathematically. Controlling for kinship, there were significant positive partial correlations between mutual grooming and proximity and between aggression and proximity. No correlation was observed between aggression and mutual grooming. Individuals that spent less time on self-grooming invested longer times receiving grooming from other individuals. In a feral horse population, mutual grooming maintains hygiene by controlling ectoparasites and forges affiliative interactions between herd members. Abstract Although herd size, structure, stability, and social rank among Misaki feral horses have been reported, no studies have been conducted on the affiliative relationships and interactions among members in a Misaki horse herd. The validity of three hypotheses regarding the function of social grooming, the affiliative relationship strengthening hypothesis, the worsened relationship restoring hypothesis, and the grooming parasite removal hypothesis, were tested in a Misaki feral horse (Equus caballus) herd in Cape Toi, Japan. All the nine horses in the “6m” herd were investigated in terms of kinship, grooming, aggression, proximity, social rank, and social network. Mutual grooming occurred only in pairs and was almost perfectly symmetrical. For each member, there was a significant negative correlation between total grooming received from other individuals and self-grooming. Controlling for kinship, there were significant positive partial correlations between mutual grooming and proximity and between aggression and proximity. No correlation was observed between aggression and mutual grooming. The results suggest that mutual grooming symmetry may contribute that both participants simultaneously benefit from parasite removal and strengthen affiliative relationships between seasonally changing herd members; however, mutual grooming did not foster restoring the worsened relationship following aggression promoted by physical proximity. The findings of this study may elucidate the mechanisms by which interactions between herd members are maintained or strengthened.
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Wang X, Xia DP, Sun L, Garber PA, Kyes RC, Sheeran LK, Sun BH, Li BW, Li JH. Infant attraction: why social bridging matters for female leadership in Tibetan macaques. Curr Zool 2020; 66:635-642. [PMID: 33391362 PMCID: PMC7769585 DOI: 10.1093/cz/zoaa026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2020] [Accepted: 05/25/2020] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Leadership is a key issue in the study of collective behavior in social animals. Affiliation–leadership models predict that dyadic partner preferences based on grooming relationships or alliance formation positively affect an individual’s decision to follow or support a conspecific. In the case of many primate species, females without young infants are attracted to mother–infant dyads. However, the effects of mother–infant–female associations on affiliation–leadership models remain less clear. In free-ranging Tibetan macaques Macaca thibetana, we used social network analysis to examine the importance of “mother-infant-adult female” social bridging events as a predictor of who leads and who follows during group movement. Social bridging is a common behavior in Tibetan macaques and occurs when 2 adults, generally females, engage in coordinated infant handling. Using eigenvector centrality coefficients of social bridging as a measure of social affiliation, we found that among lactating females, initiating bridging behavior with another female played a significant role in leadership success, with the assisting female following the mother during group movement. Among nonlactating females, this was not the case. Our results indicate that infant attraction can be a strong trigger in collective action and directing group movement in Tibetan macaques and provides benefits to mothers who require helpers and social support in order to ensure the safety of their infants. Our study provides new insights into the importance of the third-party effect in rethinking affiliation–leadership models in group-living animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xi Wang
- School of Resources and Environmental Engineering, Anhui University, Hefei 230601, China.,International Collaborative Research Center for Huangshan Biodiversity and Tibetan Macaque Behavioral Ecology, Hefei 230601, China
| | - Dong-Po Xia
- International Collaborative Research Center for Huangshan Biodiversity and Tibetan Macaque Behavioral Ecology, Hefei 230601, China.,School of Life Sciences, Anhui University, Hefei 230601, China
| | - Lixing Sun
- Department of Biological Sciences, Central Washington University, Ellensburg, WA 98926, USA
| | - Paul A Garber
- Department of Anthropology and Program in Ecology, Evolution, and Conservation Biology, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
| | - Randall C Kyes
- Center for Global Field Study, Departments of Psychology and Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA.,Washington National Primate Research Center, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Lori K Sheeran
- Department of Anthropology, Central Washington University, Ellensburg, WA 98926, USA
| | - Bing-Hua Sun
- School of Resources and Environmental Engineering, Anhui University, Hefei 230601, China.,International Collaborative Research Center for Huangshan Biodiversity and Tibetan Macaque Behavioral Ecology, Hefei 230601, China
| | - Bo-Wen Li
- School of Resources and Environmental Engineering, Anhui University, Hefei 230601, China.,International Collaborative Research Center for Huangshan Biodiversity and Tibetan Macaque Behavioral Ecology, Hefei 230601, China
| | - Jin-Hua Li
- School of Resources and Environmental Engineering, Anhui University, Hefei 230601, China.,International Collaborative Research Center for Huangshan Biodiversity and Tibetan Macaque Behavioral Ecology, Hefei 230601, China.,Hefei Normal University, Hefei 230601, China
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19
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Laakasuo M, Rotkirch A, van Duijn M, Berg V, Jokela M, David-Barrett T, Miettinen A, Pearce E, Dunbar R. Homophily in Personality Enhances Group Success Among Real-Life Friends. Front Psychol 2020; 11:710. [PMID: 32431638 PMCID: PMC7212830 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2020.00710] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/01/2020] [Accepted: 03/24/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Personality affects dyadic relations and teamwork, yet its role among groups of friends has been little explored. We examine for the first time whether similarity in personality enhances the effectiveness of real-life friendship groups. Using data from a longitudinal study of a European fraternity (10 male and 15 female groups), we investigate how individual Big Five personality traits were associated with group formation and whether personality homophily related to how successful the groups were over 1 year (N = 147-196). Group success was measured as group performance/identification (adoption of group markers) and as group bonding (using the inclusion-of-other-in-self scale). Results show that individuals' similarity in neuroticism and conscientiousness predicted group formation. Furthermore, personality similarity was associated with group success, even after controlling for individual's own personality. Especially higher group-level similarity in conscientiousness was associated with group performance, and with bonding in male groups.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Laakasuo
- Department of Digital Humanities, Cognitive Science Unit, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Anna Rotkirch
- Population Research Institute, Väestöliitto, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Max van Duijn
- Leiden Institute of Advanced Computer Science (LIACS), Leiden University, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Venla Berg
- Population Research Institute, Väestöliitto, Helsinki, Finland
- Institute of Criminology and Legal Policy, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Markus Jokela
- Department of Digital Humanities, Cognitive Science Unit, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Tamas David-Barrett
- Universidad del Desarrollo, Santiago, Chile
- Trinity College, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
- Väestöliitto Population Research Institute, Helsinki, Finland
| | | | - Eiluned Pearce
- Division of Psychiatry, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Robin Dunbar
- Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
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20
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Gérard C, Valenchon M, Poulin N, Petit O. How does the expressiveness of leaders affect followership in domestic horses (Equus ferus caballus)? Anim Cogn 2020; 23:559-569. [PMID: 32065307 DOI: 10.1007/s10071-020-01361-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2019] [Revised: 02/06/2020] [Accepted: 02/08/2020] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
In collective movements, some individuals are more effective and attractive leaders than others. Parameters such as social network, personality, and physiologic needs failed to explain why group members follow one leader more than another. In this study in the domestic horse, we propose to focus on the leader's attitude and its impact to the followers' recruitment during two conditions: spontaneous group departures or experimentally induced departures. We postulate that the expressiveness of the leader could enhance its attractiveness and thus produce a successful followership. We found that a high expressiveness level is associated with a high curiosity score and with a low social status. This propensity to initiate while being expressive was higher in the experimental condition than in the spontaneous condition which was expected, since the experimental procedure sought to increase the motivation of initiators with a highly appetent reward. Moreover, the more intense the leader's expressiveness is, the faster the followers will join the movement regardless of the condition. This positive and dynamic attitude can be perceived as an attractive feature by the followers. Finally, we evidenced collective arousal in followers initiated by the leader that could be essential for group cohesion. The present study is the first to investigate the expressiveness level in animals, and provides new insights into the emergence of leadership.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caroline Gérard
- Cognitive and Social Ethology Group, CNRS, UMR 7247 Physiologie de La Reproduction Et Des Comportements, 37380, Nouzilly, France.,UMR 7206 Eco-Anthropologie, MNHN, Musée de l'Homme, 17 place du Trocadéro, 75116, Paris, France
| | - Mathilde Valenchon
- Cognitive and Social Ethology Group, CNRS, UMR 7247 Physiologie de La Reproduction Et Des Comportements, 37380, Nouzilly, France.,School of Veterinary Sciences, University of Bristol, Langford House, Langford, Bristol, BS40 5DU, UK
| | - Nicolas Poulin
- CeStatS, Institut de Recherche Mathématique Avancée, UMR 7501, University of Strasbourg-CNRS, 67000, Strasbourg, France
| | - Odile Petit
- Cognitive and Social Ethology Group, CNRS, UMR 7247 Physiologie de La Reproduction Et Des Comportements, 37380, Nouzilly, France.
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21
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Ringhofer M, Go CK, Inoue S, S. Mendonça R, Hirata S, Kubo T, Ikeda K, Yamamoto S. Herding mechanisms to maintain the cohesion of a harem group: two interaction phases during herding. J ETHOL 2019. [DOI: 10.1007/s10164-019-00622-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
AbstractIn animal groups, individual interactions achieve coordinated movements to maintain cohesion. In horse harem groups, herding is a behavior in which males chase females from behind; it is considered to assist with group cohesiveness. However, the mechanisms by which the individuals move to maintain group cohesion are unknown. We applied novel non-invasive methods of drone filming and video tracking to observe horse movements in the field with high temporal and spatial resolution. We tracked all group members and drew trajectories. We analyzed the movements of females and found two phases of interactions based on their timing of movement initiation. The females that moved first were those nearest to the herding male, while the movement initiation of the later females was determined by the distance from the nearest moving female, not by the distance from the herding male. These interactions are unique among animal group movements and might represent a herding mechanism responsible for maintaining group cohesion. This might be due to long-term stable relationships within a harem group and strong social bonds between females. This study showed that the combination of drone filming and video tracking is a useful method for analyzing the movements of animals simultaneously in high resolution.
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22
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Lampe JF, Ruchti S, Burman O, Würbel H, Melotti L. Play like me: Similarity in playfulness promotes social play. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0224282. [PMID: 31648250 PMCID: PMC6812795 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0224282] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2019] [Accepted: 10/09/2019] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Social play is associated with the experience of positive emotions in higher vertebrates and may be used as a measure of animal welfare. Altering motivation to play (e.g., through short-term social isolation) can temporarily affect play levels between familiar individuals, a process which may involve emotional contagion. This study investigated how forming groups based on known differences in the personality trait "playfulness" (i.e., the longer-term propensity of an individual to actively play from adolescence to early adulthood) affects social play. Seventy-six adolescent male Lister Hooded rats underwent a Play-in-Pairs test assessing their playfulness, ranked as high (H), intermediate (I) or low (L). At seven weeks of age, rats were resorted into homogenous groups of similar (LLL, III, HHH), or heterogeneous groups of dissimilar (HII, LII) playfulness. Social play was scored in the home cage at Weeks 8, 10, 12 of age. A second Play-in-Pairs test was performed (Week 11) to assess consistency of playfulness. A Social Preference test investigated whether I rats in heterogeneous groups preferred proximity with I, H or L cage mates. It was found that heterogeneous groups played less than homogeneous ones at adolescence (8 weeks of age), while play levels at early adulthood (Weeks 10 and 12) did not differ between groups. Play in the homogeneous groups decreased with age as expected, while it did not change over time in the heterogeneous groups, which did not compensate for the lower play levels shown at adolescence. Play-in-Pairs scores before and after resorting were mildly correlated, indicating some level of consistency over time despite the resorting procedure. In the Social Preference test, subjects did not prefer one playfulness level over another. We conclude that a mismatch in playfulness may negatively affect social play development, and thus the welfare, of rats. Groups made of animals with similar playfulness, even those initially scoring relatively low in this trait, seemed to be more successful in establishing play relationships during adolescence.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Sabrina Ruchti
- Division of Animal Welfare, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Oliver Burman
- School of Life Sciences, University of Lincoln, Joseph Banks Laboratories, Lincoln, United Kingdom
| | - Hanno Würbel
- Division of Animal Welfare, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Luca Melotti
- Division of Animal Welfare, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- Department of Behavioural Biology, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
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23
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Sperber AL, Kappeler PM, Fichtel C. Should I stay or should I go? Individual movement decisions during group departures in red-fronted lemurs. ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE 2019; 6:180991. [PMID: 31031989 PMCID: PMC6458422 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.180991] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2018] [Accepted: 02/26/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Collective movements are essential for maintaining group cohesion. However, group members can have different optimal departure times, depending on individual, social and contextual factors whose relative importance remains poorly known. We, therefore, studied collective departures in four groups of red-fronted lemurs (Eulemur rufifrons) in Kirindy Forest, Madagascar, to investigate the influence of an individual's age, sex, their affiliative relationships and their proximity to other group members at the time of departure on their individual departure decision. We recorded behavioural and spatial data on individual departures during 167 group movements and conducted group scans (181-279 per group) to assess affiliative relationships. All factors influenced individual departures. Both affiliation and proximity determined a mimetic joining process in which dyads with stronger affiliative bonds departed in closer succession, and individuals followed the initiator and predecessors more quickly when they were in closer proximity at departure. While the influence of affiliation is common, the effect of inter-individual distance has rarely been considered in groups with heterogeneous social relationships. Although local rules influenced joining, the overall movement pattern was mainly determined by individual traits: juveniles took protected central positions, while females made up the van and males brought up the rear. Individual needs, expressed in the departure order, to an extent overruled the effect of affiliation. These results highlight the importance of considering individual, social and contextual factors collectively in the study of collective movements.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Lucia Sperber
- Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology Unit, German Primate Center Leibniz Institute for Primate Research, Kellnerweg 4, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
- Department of Sociobiology/Anthropology, Johann-Friedrich-Blumenbach Institute for Zoology and Anthropology, University Göttingen, Kellnerweg 6, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
- Leibniz ScienceCampus ‘Primate Cognition’, Kellnerweg 4, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Peter M. Kappeler
- Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology Unit, German Primate Center Leibniz Institute for Primate Research, Kellnerweg 4, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
- Department of Sociobiology/Anthropology, Johann-Friedrich-Blumenbach Institute for Zoology and Anthropology, University Göttingen, Kellnerweg 6, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
- Leibniz ScienceCampus ‘Primate Cognition’, Kellnerweg 4, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Claudia Fichtel
- Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology Unit, German Primate Center Leibniz Institute for Primate Research, Kellnerweg 4, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
- Department of Sociobiology/Anthropology, Johann-Friedrich-Blumenbach Institute for Zoology and Anthropology, University Göttingen, Kellnerweg 6, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
- Leibniz ScienceCampus ‘Primate Cognition’, Kellnerweg 4, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
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24
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Ramos A, Manizan L, Rodriguez E, Kemp YJM, Sueur C. The social network structure of a semi-free roaming European bison herd (Bison bonasus). Behav Processes 2018; 158:97-105. [PMID: 30445118 DOI: 10.1016/j.beproc.2018.11.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2017] [Revised: 11/10/2018] [Accepted: 11/12/2018] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
The use of social network analysis to better understand animal behaviour has led to an increase in the number of studies on this topic, particularly for species management and conservation as well as the welfare of captive animals. The current knowledge of social organization in the European bison (Bison bonasus) is still largely based on descriptions of group compositions, most of which were obtained during opportunistic field observations. However, the numerous conservation programs for this species can only implement effective management decisions after the analysis of its social structures. For instance, the removal of a key individual can disturb the social stability of a group and thus indirectly affect the fitness of group members. This is the first study that uses social network analysis to examine the social structure of a semi-free ranging bison herd (N = 14). Closest neighbour associations are used to calculate the eigenvector centrality and individual social strength of each animal. These two indices are combined after a principal component analysis (PCA) to form the Sociability variable, which was then tested for correlations with age, dominance rank, number of matrilines and reproductive status (lactating vs non-lactating). Results reveal strong group cohesion, with a close association of individuals belonging to the same matriline within the herd. The cumulative distribution of the eigenvector centralities follows a linear function, meaning that no individual has a highly central position compared to its congeners. Finally, a high Sociability value was not correlated to age, dominance rank or number of matrilines, but was dependent on the reproductive status of females. These results indicate the necessity to consider the social welfare of animals, for instance by taking matrilineal relationships into account when making bison groups management decisions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amandine Ramos
- Université de Strasbourg, CNRS, IPHC UMR 7178, F-67000, Strasbourg, France.
| | - Lola Manizan
- Université de Strasbourg, CNRS, IPHC UMR 7178, F-67000, Strasbourg, France
| | - Esther Rodriguez
- PWN Waterleidingbedrijf Noord-Holland, Postbus 2113, 1990 AC, Velserbroek, the Netherlands
| | - Yvonne J M Kemp
- PWN Waterleidingbedrijf Noord-Holland, Postbus 2113, 1990 AC, Velserbroek, the Netherlands; ARK Nature, Molenveldlaan 43, 6523 RJ, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Cédric Sueur
- Université de Strasbourg, CNRS, IPHC UMR 7178, F-67000, Strasbourg, France
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25
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Inoue S, Yamamoto S, Ringhofer M, Mendonça RS, Pereira C, Hirata S. Spatial positioning of individuals in a group of feral horses: a case study using drone technology. MAMMAL RES 2018. [DOI: 10.1007/s13364-018-0400-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
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26
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Ramos A, Manizan L, Rodriguez E, Kemp YJM, Sueur C. How can leadership processes in European bison be used to improve the management of free-roaming herds. EUR J WILDLIFE RES 2018. [DOI: 10.1007/s10344-018-1175-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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27
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Briard L, Deneubourg JL, Petit O. How stallions influence the dynamic of collective movements in two groups of domestic horses, from departure to arrival. Behav Processes 2017; 142:56-63. [DOI: 10.1016/j.beproc.2017.05.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2016] [Revised: 04/12/2017] [Accepted: 05/06/2017] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
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28
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Abstract
Gaze following is widespread among animals. However, the corresponding ultimate functions may vary substantially. Thus, it is important to study previously understudied (or less studied) species to develop a better understanding of the ecological contexts that foster certain cognitive traits. Penguins (Family Spheniscidae), despite their wide interspecies ecological variation, have previously not been considered for cross-species comparisons. Penguin behaviour and communication have been investigated over the last decades, but less is known on how groups are structured, social hierarchies are established, and coordination for hunting and predator avoidance may occur. In this article, we investigated how African penguins (Spheniscus demersus) respond to gaze cues of conspecifics using a naturalistic setup in a zoo environment. Our results provide evidence that members of the family Spheniscidae follow gaze of conspecifics into distant space. However, further tests are necessary to examine if the observed behaviour serves solely one specific function (e.g. predator detection) or is displayed in a broader context (e.g. eavesdropping on relevant stimuli in the environment). In addition, our findings can serve as a starting point for future cross-species comparisons with other members of the penguin family, to further explore the role of aerial predation and social structure on gaze following in social species. Overall, we also suggest that zoo-housed animals represent an ideal opportunity to extend species range and to test phylogenetic families that have not been in the focus of animal cognitive research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christian Nawroth
- School of Biological and Chemical Sciences, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK.,Institute of Behavioural Physiology, Leibniz Institute for Farm Animal Biology, Dummerstorf, Germany
| | - Egle Trincas
- Department of Life Sciences and Systems Biology, University of Turin, Turin, Italy.,Zoom Torino, Turin, Italy
| | - Livio Favaro
- Department of Life Sciences and Systems Biology, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
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29
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Šimková O, Frýdlová P, Žampachová B, Frynta D, Landová E. Development of behavioural profile in the Northern common boa (Boa imperator): Repeatable independent traits or personality? PLoS One 2017; 12:e0177911. [PMID: 28542424 PMCID: PMC5443515 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0177911] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2016] [Accepted: 05/05/2017] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Recent studies of animal personality have focused on its proximate causation and ecological and evolutionary significance in particular, but the question of its development was largely overlooked. The attributes of personality are defined as between-individual differences in behaviour, which are consistent over time (differential consistency) and contexts (contextual generality) and both can be affected by development. We assessed several candidates for personality variables measured in various tests with different contexts over several life-stages (juveniles, older juveniles, subadults and adults) in the Northern common boa. Variables describing foraging/feeding decision and some of the defensive behaviours expressed as individual average values are highly repeatable and consistent. We found two main personality axes-one associated with foraging/feeding and the speed of decision, the other reflecting agonistic behaviour. Intensity of behaviour in the feeding context changes during development, but the level of agonistic behaviour remains the same. The juveniles and adults have a similar personality structure, but there is a period of structural change of behaviour during the second year of life (subadults). These results require a new theoretical model to explain the selection pressures resulting in this developmental pattern of personality. We also studied the proximate factors and their relationship to behavioural characteristics. Physiological parameters (heart and breath rate stress response) measured in adults clustered with variables concerning the agonistic behavioural profile, while no relationship between the juvenile/adult body size and personality concerning feeding/foraging and the agonistic behavioural profile was found. Our study suggests that it is important for studies of personality development to focus on both the structural and differential consistency, because even though behaviour is differentially consistent, the structure can change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olga Šimková
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Petra Frýdlová
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Barbora Žampachová
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
- National Institute of Mental Health, Klecany, Czech Republic
| | - Daniel Frynta
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
- National Institute of Mental Health, Klecany, Czech Republic
| | - Eva Landová
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
- National Institute of Mental Health, Klecany, Czech Republic
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30
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31
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Chock RY, Wey TW, Ebensperger LA, Hayes L. Evidence for a behavioural syndrome and negative social assortment by exploratory personality in the communally nesting rodent, Octodon degus. BEHAVIOUR 2017. [DOI: 10.1163/1568539x-00003433] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Recent research in behavioural ecology has revealed the structure of animal personality and connections to ecologically and evolutionarily important traits. Personality is hypothesized to influence social interactions through individual behavioural differences or personality-based dyadic interactions. We describe the structure of personality traits and ask if two traits, boldness and exploration, play a role in the strength or pattern of social associations in a wild population of degus, a rodent that often lives communally with unrelated conspecifics. Boldness was repeatable in both adults and juveniles, but exploration was only repeatable in adults. We found evidence for a behavioural syndrome between exploration and boldness in adult degus. We documented negative assortment by exploratory personality type; more exploratory animals shared burrows with less exploratory animals. However, tendency towards boldness and exploration were not predictive of association strength. Our results highlight a potential connection between personality and social structure in a communally nesting species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel Y. Chock
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California, 612 Charles E. Young Dr. East, Los Angeles, CA 90095-7246, USA
| | - Tina W. Wey
- Département des sciences biologiques, Université du Québec à Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada H3C 3P8
| | - Luis A. Ebensperger
- Departamento de Ecología, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Loren D. Hayes
- Department of Biology, Geology, and Environmental Sciences, University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, Chattanooga, TN 37403, USA
- Department of Biology, University of Louisiana at Monroe, Monroe, LA 71203, USA
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32
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Abstract
When moving in groups, social animals tend to follow a leader which successfully attracted them. Many variables are known to affect an individual’s propensity to act as a leader. Depending on their nature, these variables underlie two theoretical paradigms (i) ‘leadership according to social indifference’, characterised by differences in personality or sociability, or (ii) ‘leadership according to need’, characterised by differences in energetic requirements or information content. Currently, it is not clear under which circumstances each of the two paradigms plays a larger role. Here, we tried to understand these paradigms by observing collective movements in female mallards. Each of these mallards previously learned individually to associate one of four locations in a maze with food rewards. We then formed groups of various compositions (group size range: 2–5 individuals) with respect to personality, sociability, energetic requirements, motivation and information content. We found that groups remained cohesive, and that certain individuals were consistent leaders within and between trials. The order of entering the maze was mainly determined by energetic requirements. However, soon after entering the maze, the progression order changed. Then, more socially indifferent individuals took the lead and this new order remained constant until all individuals reached the final location, which was usually the one the leader had learned. In addition, we investigated the role of naïve individuals in group decision-making. In our setup, adding naïve individuals broke the leadership consistency between trials and increased fission events. Overall, our results show that the onset of collective movements may be driven by different mechanisms compared to the movement progression itself.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christophe A.H. Bousquet
- Université de Strasbourg, CNRS, IPHC UMR7178, 23 rue Becquerel, 67087 Strasbourg Cedex 2, France
| | - Noëlle Ahr
- Université de Strasbourg, CNRS, IPHC UMR7178, 23 rue Becquerel, 67087 Strasbourg Cedex 2, France
| | - Cédric Sueur
- Université de Strasbourg, CNRS, IPHC UMR7178, 23 rue Becquerel, 67087 Strasbourg Cedex 2, France
- Université libre de Bruxelles, Unit of Social Ecology, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Odile Petit
- Université de Strasbourg, CNRS, IPHC UMR7178, 23 rue Becquerel, 67087 Strasbourg Cedex 2, France
- Université libre de Bruxelles, Unit of Social Ecology, Brussels, Belgium
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33
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Nawroth C, Prentice PM, McElligott AG. Individual personality differences in goats predict their performance in visual learning and non-associative cognitive tasks. Behav Processes 2016; 134:43-53. [PMID: 27514774 DOI: 10.1016/j.beproc.2016.08.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2016] [Revised: 07/30/2016] [Accepted: 08/01/2016] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Variation in common personality traits, such as boldness or exploration, is often associated with risk-reward trade-offs and behavioural flexibility. To date, only a few studies have examined the effects of consistent behavioural traits on both learning and cognition. We investigated whether certain personality traits ('exploration' and 'sociability') of individuals were related to cognitive performance, learning flexibility and learning style in a social ungulate species, the goat (Capra hircus). We also investigated whether a preference for feature cues rather than impaired learning abilities can explain performance variation in a visual discrimination task. We found that personality scores were consistent across time and context. Less explorative goats performed better in a non-associative cognitive task, in which subjects had to follow the trajectory of a hidden object (i.e. testing their ability for object permanence). We also found that less sociable subjects performed better compared to more sociable goats in a visual discrimination task. Good visual learning performance was associated with a preference for feature cues, indicating personality-dependent learning strategies in goats. Our results suggest that personality traits predict the outcome in visual discrimination and non-associative cognitive tasks in goats and that impaired performance in a visual discrimination tasks does not necessarily imply impaired learning capacities, but rather can be explained by a varying preference for feature cues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christian Nawroth
- Queen Mary University of London, Biological and Experimental Psychology, School of Biological and Chemical Sciences, London, UK.
| | - Pamela M Prentice
- University of Edinburgh, Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Alan G McElligott
- Queen Mary University of London, Biological and Experimental Psychology, School of Biological and Chemical Sciences, London, UK.
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34
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Lee HC, Teichroeb JA. Partially shared consensus decision making and distributed leadership in vervet monkeys: older females lead the group to forage. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL ANTHROPOLOGY 2016; 161:580-590. [PMID: 27473609 DOI: 10.1002/ajpa.23058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2015] [Revised: 05/30/2016] [Accepted: 07/11/2016] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Group living can be advantageous, but for motile organisms, collective movements become necessary. We are just beginning to understand the many ways that animal groups make movement decisions and maintain cohesion. We examined start attempts and success in leading collective group movements in vervet monkeys (Chlorocebus pygerythrus) characterized by matrilineal groups and territoriality. MATERIALS AND METHODS We recorded 179 start attempts in a single group of vervets at Lake Nabugabo, Uganda and examined individual success in three situations (departing from sleeping site, moving to forage, returning to sleeping site) relative to dominance rank, age, and sex. RESULTS Sex and age were associated with both the number of start attempts and success in leading group movements, but there was no effect of dominance rank. Older females were most successful at leading group movements, especially toward foraging sites, while adult and subadult males almost always led the group out of the sleeping site. DISCUSSION Collective group movements in vervet monkeys appear to be based on distributed leadership and partially shared consensus decision making. Older females may be repositories of ecological knowledge, resulting in their success at leading the group to forage. Male motivation to lead the way out of the sleeping site appeared related to accessing human food sources before other group members. Young natal males achieved some success leading group progressions because they were motivated to make many initiations, which may be related to their life-stage. These results give us a better understanding of the processes underlying collective movements in cohesive animal groups.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hillary C Lee
- Department of Evolutionary Anthropology, Duke University, Box 90383, Durham, NC, 27708, USA
| | - Julie A Teichroeb
- Department of Anthropology, University of Toronto Scarborough, 1265 Military Trail, Toronto, ON, Canada, M1C 1A4
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Informed horses are influential in group movements, but they may avoid leading. Anim Cogn 2015; 19:451-8. [DOI: 10.1007/s10071-015-0945-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2015] [Revised: 11/09/2015] [Accepted: 11/19/2015] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
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