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Morin A, Culbert BM, Mehdi H, Balshine S, Turko AJ. Status-dependent metabolic effects of social interactions in a group-living fish. Biol Lett 2024; 20:20240056. [PMID: 39045657 PMCID: PMC11267398 DOI: 10.1098/rsbl.2024.0056] [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: 02/02/2024] [Revised: 05/14/2024] [Accepted: 06/12/2024] [Indexed: 07/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Social interactions can sometimes be a source of stress, but social companions can also ameliorate and buffer against stress. Stress and metabolism are closely linked, but the degree to which social companions modulate metabolic responses during stressful situations-and whether such effects differ depending on social rank-is poorly understood. To investigate this question, we studied Neolamprologus pulcher, a group-living cichlid fish endemic to Lake Tanganyika and measured the metabolic responses of dominant and subordinate individuals when they were either visible or concealed from one another. When individuals could see each other, subordinates had lower maximum metabolic rates and tended to take longer to recover following an exhaustive chase compared with dominants. In contrast, metabolic responses of dominants and subordinates did not differ when individuals could not see one another. These findings suggest that the presence of a dominant individual has negative metabolic consequences for subordinates, even in stable social groups with strong prosocial relationships.
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Affiliation(s)
- André Morin
- Department of Psychology, Neuroscience & Behaviour, McMaster University, 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, 75 Pigdons Road, Geelong, Victoria, Australia
| | - Brett M. Culbert
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road East, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
| | - Hossein Mehdi
- Department of Psychology, Neuroscience & Behaviour, McMaster University, 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Sigal Balshine
- Department of Psychology, Neuroscience & Behaviour, McMaster University, 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Andy J. Turko
- Department of Psychology, Neuroscience & Behaviour, McMaster University, 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road East, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
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Culbert BM, Ligocki IY, Salena MG, Wong MYL, Hamilton IM, Bernier NJ, Balshine S. Galanin expression varies with parental care and social status in a wild cooperatively breeding fish. Horm Behav 2022; 146:105275. [PMID: 36272180 DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2022.105275] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2022] [Revised: 09/27/2022] [Accepted: 10/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
As many busy parents will attest, caring for young often comes at the expense of having time to feed and care for oneself. Galanin is a neuropeptide that regulates food intake and modulates parental care; however, the relative importance of galanin in the regulation of feeding versus caring by parents has never been evaluated before under naturalistic settings. Here, we assessed how expression of the galanin system varied in two brain regions, the hypothalamus (which regulates feeding) and the preoptic area (which modulates social behaviours including care) in a wild cichlid fish, Neolamprologus pulcher. Females with young had higher hypothalamic expression of galanin receptor 1a, and the highest expression of galanin and galanin receptor 1a was observed in females that foraged the least. However, expression of five other feeding-related neuropeptides did not change while females were caring for young suggesting that changes in the hypothalamic galanin system may not have been directly related to changes in food intake. The preoptic galanin system was unaffected by the presence of young, but preoptic galanin expression was higher in dominant females (which are aggressive, regularly reproduce and care for young) compared to subordinate females (which are submissive, rarely reproduce but often help care for young). Additionally, preoptic galanin expression was higher in fish that performed more territory defense. Overall, our results indicate that galanin has brain-region-specific roles in modulating both parental care and social status in wild animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brett M Culbert
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada.
| | - Isaac Y Ligocki
- Department of Evolution, Ecology, and Organismal Biology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA; Department of Biology, Millersville University, Millersville, PA, USA
| | - Matthew G Salena
- Department of Psychology, Neuroscience & Behaviour, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Marian Y L Wong
- School of Earth, Atmospheric and Life Sciences, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Ian M Hamilton
- Department of Evolution, Ecology, and Organismal Biology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA; Department of Mathematics, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Nicholas J Bernier
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
| | - Sigal Balshine
- Department of Psychology, Neuroscience & Behaviour, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
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Matsumoto K, Yoshihara K, Katsura C, Ono T, Habara M, Kohda M. Sex-dependent growth regulation in monogamous pairs of a cichlid fish. BEHAVIOUR 2022. [DOI: 10.1163/1568539x-bja10190] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
In some social groups, non-breeding subordinates regulate their growth, relative to the size of their immediate dominants in ways that reduce conflict over dominance rank. We predicted that such strategic growth adjustment should also occur in breeding pairs, if this is beneficial for the more subordinate individual within a pair. Using the cichlid fish, Julidochromis transcriptus, held in a laboratory, we examined whether strategic growth regulation occurs in monogamous pairs. In female-largest pairs, smaller males grew slower than their partner when the initial size ratio of pairs (large/small) was small, but faster when the ratio was large, and the number of pairs with an intermediate size ratio increased over time. However, in male-largest pairs, smaller females had a low growth rate and the size ratio of these pairs increased over time. The most important factors for predicting the growth rate of fish were the initial size ratio of pairs for smaller males in female-largest pairs and the initial body size for larger individuals in both pair types, but no such predictors were found for smaller females in male-largest pairs. Neither feeding rate nor attacking rate of the two individuals in a pair predicted the growth rate of smaller fish in a pair. These results suggest that smaller males strategically adjust their own growth, relative to the size of their partner in female-largest pairs, wherein the growth of larger females unrestrained by social relationship with their partner can increase female fecundity, being beneficial for both sexes. The adaptive significance of a low growth rate of smaller females in male-largest pairs is also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kazunori Matsumoto
- Laboratory of Biology, Faculty of Education, Kagawa University, Takamatsu 760-8522, Japan
| | - Kazuki Yoshihara
- Laboratory of Biology, Faculty of Education, Kagawa University, Takamatsu 760-8522, Japan
| | - Chiyo Katsura
- Laboratory of Biology, Faculty of Education, Kagawa University, Takamatsu 760-8522, Japan
| | - Tatsunori Ono
- Laboratory of Biology, Faculty of Education, Kagawa University, Takamatsu 760-8522, Japan
| | - Masaki Habara
- Laboratory of Biology, Faculty of Education, Kagawa University, Takamatsu 760-8522, Japan
| | - Masanori Kohda
- Laboratory of Animal Sociology, Department of Biology and Geosciences, Graduate School of Science, Osaka Metropolitan University, Osaka 558-8585, Japan
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Antioxidant capacity differs across social ranks and with ascension in males of a group-living fish. Comp Biochem Physiol A Mol Integr Physiol 2021; 265:111126. [PMID: 34906630 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpa.2021.111126] [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: 08/27/2021] [Revised: 12/07/2021] [Accepted: 12/07/2021] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Animals that live in groups often form hierarchies in which an individual's behaviour and physiology varies based on their social rank. Occasionally, a subordinate can ascend into a dominant position and the ascending individual must make rapid behavioural and physiological adjustments to solidify their dominance. These periods of social transition and instability can be stressful and ascending individuals often incur large metabolic costs that could influence their oxidative status. Most previous investigations examining the link between oxidative status and the social environment have done so under stable social conditions and have evaluated oxidative status in a single tissue. Therefore, evaluations of how oxidative status is regulated across multiple tissues during periods of social flux would greatly enhance our understanding of the relationship between oxidative status and the social environment. Here, we assessed how antioxidant capacity in three tissues (brain, gonad, and muscle) varied among dominant, subordinate, and ascending males of the group-living cichlid fish, Neolamprologus pulcher. Antioxidant capacity in the brain and muscle of ascending males was intermediate to that of dominant (highest levels) and subordinate males (lowest levels) and correlated with differences in social and locomotor behaviours, respectively. Gonad antioxidant capacity was lower in ascending males than in dominant males. However, gonad antioxidant capacity was positively correlated with the size of ascending males' gonads suggesting that ascending males may increase gonad antioxidant capacity as they develop their gonads. Overall, our results highlight the widespread physiological consequences of social ascension and emphasize the importance of tissue-specific measures of oxidative status.
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Culbert BM, Ligocki IY, Salena MG, Wong MYL, Hamilton IM, Aubin-Horth N, Bernier NJ, Balshine S. Rank- and sex-specific differences in the neuroendocrine regulation of glucocorticoids in a wild group-living fish. Horm Behav 2021; 136:105079. [PMID: 34717080 DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2021.105079] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2021] [Revised: 07/27/2021] [Accepted: 10/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Individuals that live in groups experience different challenges based on their social rank and sex. Glucocorticoids have a well-established role in coordinating responses to challenges and glucocorticoid levels often vary between ranks and sexes. However, the neuroendocrine mechanisms regulating glucocorticoid dynamics in wild groups are poorly understood, making it difficult to determine the functional consequences of differences in glucocorticoid levels. Therefore, we observed wild social groups of a cooperatively breeding fish (Neolamprologus pulcher) and evaluated how scale cortisol content (an emerging method to evaluate cortisol dynamics in fishes) and expression of glucocorticoid-related genes varied across group members. Scale cortisol was detectable in ~50% of dominant males (7/17) and females (7/15)-but not in any subordinates (0/16)-suggesting that glucocorticoid levels were higher in dominants. However, the apparent behavioural and neuroendocrine factors regulating cortisol levels varied between dominant sexes. In dominant females, higher cortisol was associated with greater rates of territory defense and increased expression of corticotropin-releasing factor in the preoptic and hypothalamic regions of the brain, but these patterns were not observed in dominant males. Additionally, transcriptional differences in the liver suggest that dominant sexes may use different mechanisms to cope with elevated cortisol levels. While dominant females appeared to reduce the relative sensitivity of their liver to cortisol (fewer corticosteroid receptor transcripts), dominant males appeared to increase hepatic cortisol breakdown (more catabolic enzyme transcripts). Overall, our results offer valuable insights on the mechanisms regulating rank- and sex-based glucocorticoid dynamics, as well as the potential functional outcomes of these differences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brett M Culbert
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada.
| | - Isaac Y Ligocki
- Department of Evolution, Ecology, and Organismal Biology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA; Department of Biology, Millersville University, Millersville, PA, USA
| | - Matthew G Salena
- Department of Psychology, Neuroscience & Behaviour, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Marian Y L Wong
- School of Earth, Atmospheric and Life Sciences, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Ian M Hamilton
- Department of Evolution, Ecology, and Organismal Biology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA; Department of Mathematics, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Nadia Aubin-Horth
- Département de Biologie and Institut de Biologie Intégrative et des Systèmes (IBIS), Université Laval, Québec, Quebec, Canada
| | - Nicholas J Bernier
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
| | - Sigal Balshine
- Department of Psychology, Neuroscience & Behaviour, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
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Culbert BM, Balshine S, Gilmour KM. Physiological Regulation of Growth during Social Ascension in a Group-Living Fish. Physiol Biochem Zool 2019; 92:211-222. [PMID: 30735088 DOI: 10.1086/702338] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
In social groups, dominant animals typically are larger and have better access to resources than subordinates. When subordinates are given the opportunity to ascend to a dominant position, they will elevate their rates of growth to help secure dominance. This study investigated the physiological mechanisms facilitating this increased growth. Using the group-living cichlid, Neolamprologus pulcher, we investigated whether the insulin-like growth factor (IGF) system-a key regulator of growth-is involved in the regulation of growth during social ascension. We also assessed differences in energy storage and expenditure among dominant, subordinate, and ascending males to determine the energetic costs associated with ascension. Daily growth rates tripled during ascension, and ascending males expended more energy after ascension, owing to higher rates of energetically costly social behaviors, increased locomotor activity, and larger home ranges. Ascenders did not increase food intake to offset increasing energetic costs but had half the liver glycogen energy stores of subordinates. Together, these results indicate a reliance on stockpiled energy reserves to fuel the high energetic demands associated with ascension. Transcript abundance of IGF binding proteins 1 (igfbp1) and 2a (igfbp2a) were low in ascenders relative to subordinates, suggesting a higher capacity for growth during ascension through increased bioavailability of circulating IGF-1. Our findings provide clear evidence of the energetic costs of social ascension and offer novel insight into the physiological mechanisms modulating the social regulation of growth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brett M Culbert
- 1 Department of Psychology, Neuroscience, and Behaviour, McMaster University, 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, Ontario L8S 4K1, Canada
| | - Sigal Balshine
- 1 Department of Psychology, Neuroscience, and Behaviour, McMaster University, 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, Ontario L8S 4K1, Canada
| | - Kathleen M Gilmour
- 2 Department of Biology, University of Ottawa, 30 Marie Curie Private, Ottawa, Ontario K1N 6N5, Canada
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Hellmann JK, Sovic MG, Gibbs HL, Reddon AR, O'Connor CM, Ligocki IY, Marsh-Rollo S, Balshine S, Hamilton IM. Within-group relatedness is correlated with colony-level social structure and reproductive sharing in a social fish. Mol Ecol 2016; 25:4001-13. [PMID: 27297293 DOI: 10.1111/mec.13728] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2016] [Revised: 05/28/2016] [Accepted: 06/01/2016] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer K. Hellmann
- Department of Evolution, Ecology, and Organismal Biology; The Ohio State University; 318 West 12th Avenue Columbus OH 43210 USA
| | - Michael G. Sovic
- Department of Evolution, Ecology, and Organismal Biology; The Ohio State University; 318 West 12th Avenue Columbus OH 43210 USA
| | - H. Lisle Gibbs
- Department of Evolution, Ecology, and Organismal Biology; The Ohio State University; 318 West 12th Avenue Columbus OH 43210 USA
| | - Adam R. Reddon
- Department of Psychology, Neuroscience, and Behaviour; Aquatic Behavioural Ecology Lab; McMaster University; 1280 Main Street West Hamilton ON Canada L8S 4K1
| | - Constance M. O'Connor
- Department of Psychology, Neuroscience, and Behaviour; Aquatic Behavioural Ecology Lab; McMaster University; 1280 Main Street West Hamilton ON Canada L8S 4K1
| | - Isaac Y. Ligocki
- Department of Evolution, Ecology, and Organismal Biology; The Ohio State University; 318 West 12th Avenue Columbus OH 43210 USA
| | - Susan Marsh-Rollo
- Department of Psychology, Neuroscience, and Behaviour; Aquatic Behavioural Ecology Lab; McMaster University; 1280 Main Street West Hamilton ON Canada L8S 4K1
| | - Sigal Balshine
- Department of Psychology, Neuroscience, and Behaviour; Aquatic Behavioural Ecology Lab; McMaster University; 1280 Main Street West Hamilton ON Canada L8S 4K1
| | - Ian M. Hamilton
- Department of Evolution, Ecology, and Organismal Biology; The Ohio State University; 318 West 12th Avenue Columbus OH 43210 USA
- Department of Mathematics; The Ohio State University; 231 West 18th Avenue Columbus OH 43210 USA
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