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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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2
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Smeltzer EA, Stead SM, Li MF, Samson D, Kumpan LT, Teichroeb JA. Social sleepers: The effects of social status on sleep in terrestrial mammals. Horm Behav 2022; 143:105181. [PMID: 35594742 DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2022.105181] [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: 12/31/2021] [Revised: 04/12/2022] [Accepted: 04/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Social status among group-living mammals can impact access to resources, such as water, food, social support, and mating opportunities, and this differential access to resources can have fitness consequences. Here, we propose that an animal's social status impacts their access to sleep opportunities, as social status may predict when an animal sleeps, where they sleep, who they sleep with, and how well they sleep. Our review of terrestrial mammals examines how sleep architecture and intensity may be impacted by (1) sleeping conditions and (2) the social experience during wakefulness. Sleeping positions vary in thermoregulatory properties, protection from predators, and exposure to parasites. Thus, if dominant individuals have priority of access to sleeping positions, they may benefit from higher quality sleeping conditions and, in turn, better sleep. With respect to waking experiences, we discuss the impacts of stress on sleep, as it has been established that specific social statuses can be characterized by stress-related physiological profiles. While much research has focused on how dominance hierarchies impact access to resources like food and mating opportunities, differential access to sleep opportunities among mammals has been largely ignored despite its potential fitness consequences.
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Affiliation(s)
- E A Smeltzer
- Department of Anthropology, University of Toronto Scarborough, 1265 Military Trail, Scarborough, Ontario M1C 1A4, Canada
| | - S M Stead
- Department of Anthropology, University of Toronto Scarborough, 1265 Military Trail, Scarborough, Ontario M1C 1A4, Canada.
| | - M F Li
- Department of Anthropology, University of Toronto, 19 Russell St., Toronto, Ontario M5S 2S2, Canada
| | - D Samson
- Department of Anthropology, University of Toronto Mississauga, 3359 Mississauga Rd., Mississauga, Ontario L5L 1C6, Canada
| | - L T Kumpan
- Department of Anthropology, University of Toronto Scarborough, 1265 Military Trail, Scarborough, Ontario M1C 1A4, Canada
| | - J A Teichroeb
- Department of Anthropology, University of Toronto Scarborough, 1265 Military Trail, Scarborough, Ontario M1C 1A4, Canada
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3
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Social thermoregulation in Mediterranean greater white-toothed shrews (Crocidura russula). Behav Ecol Sociobiol 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s00265-021-03072-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
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4
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Communal roosting shows dynamics predicted by direct and indirect nepotism in chestnut-crowned babblers. Behav Ecol Sociobiol 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s00265-020-02958-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
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5
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Cones AG, Liebl AL, Houslay TM, Russell AF. Temperature-mediated plasticity in incubation schedules is unlikely to evolve to buffer embryos from climatic challenges in a seasonal songbird. J Evol Biol 2020; 34:465-476. [PMID: 33325597 DOI: 10.1111/jeb.13743] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2020] [Revised: 11/03/2020] [Accepted: 11/09/2020] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Phenotypic plasticity is hypothesized to facilitate adaptive responses to challenging conditions, such as those resulting from climate change. However, tests of the key predictions of this 'rescue hypothesis', that variation in plasticity exists and can evolve to buffer unfavourable conditions, remain rare. Here, we investigate among-female variation in temperature-mediated plasticity of incubation schedules and consequences for egg temperatures using the chestnut-crowned babbler (Pomatostomus ruficeps) from temperate regions of inland south-eastern Australia. Given recent phenological advances in this seasonal breeder and thermal requirements of developing embryos (>~25°C, optimally ~38°C), support for evolutionary rescue-perhaps paradoxically-requires that plasticity serves to buffer embryos more from sub-optimally low temperatures. We found significant variation in the duration of incubation bouts (mean ± SD = 27 ± 22 min) and foraging bouts (mean ± SD = 17 ± 11 min) in this maternal-only incubator. However, variation in each arose because of variation in the extent to which mothers increased on- and off-bout durations when temperatures (0-36°C) were more favourable rather than unfavourable as required under rescue. In addition, there was a strong positive intercept-slope correlation in on-bout durations, indicating that those with stronger plastic responses incubated more at average temperatures (~19°C). Combined, these effects reduced the functional significance of plastic responses: an individual's plasticity was neither associated with daily contributions to incubation (i.e. attentiveness) nor average egg temperatures. Our results highlight that despite significant among-individual variation in environmental-sensitivity, plasticity in parental care traits need not evolve to facilitate buffering against unfavourable conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra G Cones
- Centre for Ecology & Conservation, University of Exeter, Penryn, Cornwall, UK.,Department of Biology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA
| | - Andrea L Liebl
- Centre for Ecology & Conservation, University of Exeter, Penryn, Cornwall, UK.,Department of Biology, University of South Dakota, Vermillion, SD, USA
| | - Thomas M Houslay
- Centre for Ecology & Conservation, University of Exeter, Penryn, Cornwall, UK
| | - Andrew F Russell
- Centre for Ecology & Conservation, University of Exeter, Penryn, Cornwall, UK.,Fowlers Gap Arid Zone Research Station, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
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6
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Noakes MJ, McKechnie AE. Seasonal Metabolic Acclimatization Varies in Direction and Magnitude among Years in Two Arid-Zone Passerines. Physiol Biochem Zool 2020; 93:140-152. [DOI: 10.1086/707679] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
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7
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Overlooked Costs of Coloniality: Mislaid Eggs and the Double Incubation of Separate Nests. AMERICAN MIDLAND NATURALIST 2019. [DOI: 10.1674/0003-0031-182.1.52] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
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Romano AB, Hunt A, Welbergen JA, Turbill C. Nocturnal torpor by superb fairy-wrens: a key mechanism for reducing winter daily energy expenditure. Biol Lett 2019; 15:20190211. [PMID: 31238856 DOI: 10.1098/rsbl.2019.0211] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Many passerine birds are small and require a high mass-specific rate of resting energy expenditure, especially in the cold. The energetics of thermoregulation is, therefore, an important aspect of their ecology, yet few studies have quantified thermoregulatory patterns in wild passerines. We used miniature telemetry to record the skin temperature ( Tskin) of free-living superb fairy-wrens ( Malurus cyaneus, 8.6 g; n = 6 birds over N = 7-22 days) and determine the importance of controlled reductions in body temperature during resting to their winter energy budgets. Fairy-wrens routinely exhibited large daily fluctuations in Tskin between maxima of 41.9 ± 0.6°C and minima of 30.4 ± 0.7°C, with overall individual minima of 27.4 ± 1.1°C (maximum daily range: 14.7 ± 0.9°C). These results provide strong evidence of nocturnal torpor in this small passerine, which we calculated to provide a 42% reduction in resting metabolic rate at a Ta of 5°C compared to active-phase Tskin. A capacity for energy-saving torpor has important consequences for understanding the behaviour and life-history ecology of superb fairy-wrens. Moreover, our novel field data suggest that torpor could be more widespread and important than previously thought within passerines, the most diverse order of birds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alex B Romano
- 1 Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment, Western Sydney University , Richmond, New South Wales , Australia
| | - Anthony Hunt
- 2 Australian Bird Study Association , 16 Alderson Ave, North Rocks, New South Wales 2151 , Australia
| | - Justin A Welbergen
- 1 Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment, Western Sydney University , Richmond, New South Wales , Australia
| | - Christopher Turbill
- 1 Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment, Western Sydney University , Richmond, New South Wales , Australia
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Gardner JL, Rowley E, de Rebeira P, de Rebeira A, Brouwer L. Associations between changing climate and body condition over decades in two southern hemisphere passerine birds. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2018. [DOI: 10.1186/s40665-018-0038-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
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10
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Capp E, Liebl AL, Cones AG, Russell AF. Advancing breeding phenology does not affect incubation schedules in chestnut-crowned babblers: Opposing effects of temperature and wind. Ecol Evol 2018; 8:696-705. [PMID: 29321906 PMCID: PMC5756856 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.3524] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2017] [Revised: 09/23/2017] [Accepted: 10/02/2017] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Projecting population responses to climate change requires an understanding of climatic impacts on key components of reproduction. Here, we investigate the associations among breeding phenology, climate and incubation schedules in the chestnut-crowned babbler (Pomatostomus ruficeps), a 50 g passerine with female-only, intermittent incubation that typically breeds from late winter (July) to early summer (November). During daylight hours, breeding females spent an average of 33 min on the nest incubating (hereafter on-bouts) followed by 24-min foraging (hereafter off-bouts), leading to an average daytime nest attentiveness of 60%. Nest attentiveness was 25% shorter than expected from allometric calculations, largely because off-bout durations were double the expected value for a species with 16 g clutches (4 eggs × 4 g/egg). On-bout durations and daily attentiveness were both negatively related to ambient temperature, presumably because increasing temperatures allowed more time to be allocated to foraging with reduced detriment to egg cooling. By contrast, on-bout durations were positively associated with wind speed, in this case because increasing wind speed exacerbated egg cooling during off-bouts. Despite an average temperature change of 12°C across the breeding season, breeding phenology had no effect on incubation schedules. This surprising result arose because of a positive relationship between temperature and wind speed across the breeding season: Any benefit of increasing temperatures was canceled by apparently detrimental consequences of increasing wind speed on egg cooling. Our results indicate that a greater appreciation for the associations among climatic variables and their independent effects on reproductive investment are necessary to understand the effects of changing climates on breeding phenology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elliot Capp
- UNSW Arid Zone Research StationSchool of Biological, Earth and Environmental SciencesUniversity of New South WalesSydneyNSWAustralia
| | - Andrea L. Liebl
- Centre for Ecology and ConservationCollege of Life and Environmental SciencesUniversity of ExeterPenryn, CornwallUK
- Department of BiologyUniversity of South DakotaVermillionSDUSA
| | - Alexandra G. Cones
- Centre for Ecology and ConservationCollege of Life and Environmental SciencesUniversity of ExeterPenryn, CornwallUK
| | - Andrew F. Russell
- UNSW Arid Zone Research StationSchool of Biological, Earth and Environmental SciencesUniversity of New South WalesSydneyNSWAustralia
- Centre for Ecology and ConservationCollege of Life and Environmental SciencesUniversity of ExeterPenryn, CornwallUK
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11
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Douglas TK, Cooper CE, Withers PC. Avian torpor or alternative thermoregulatory strategies for overwintering? J Exp Biol 2017; 220:1341-1349. [PMID: 28356368 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.154633] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2016] [Accepted: 01/16/2017] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
ABSTRACT
It is unclear whether torpor really is uncommon amongst passerine birds. We therefore examined body temperature and thermoregulatory strategies of an Austral passerine, the white-browed babbler (Pomatostomus superciliosus), which has characteristics related to a high probability of torpor use; it is a sedentary, insectivorous, cooperative breeding species, which we studied during winter in a temperate habitat. Wild, free-living babblers maintained normothermy overnight, even at sub-zero ambient temperatures, with a mean minimum body temperature of 38.5±0.04°C that was independent of minimum black bulb temperature. Physiological variables measured in the laboratory revealed that babblers had a low basal metabolic rate and evaporative water loss, but their body temperature and thermal conductance were typical of those of other birds and they had a typical endothermic response to low ambient temperature. Huddling yielded significant energy savings at low temperatures and a roost nest created a microclimate that buffered against low temperatures. Low basal energy requirements, communal roosting and the insulation of a roost nest confer sufficient energetic benefits, allowing babblers to meet energy requirements without resorting to heterothermia, even in their depauperate, low-productivity landscape, suggesting that passerine birds use alternatives to torpor to balance their energy budgets when possible.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tegan K. Douglas
- Department of Environment and Agriculture, Curtin University, Bentley, WA 6845, Australia
| | - Christine E. Cooper
- Department of Environment and Agriculture, Curtin University, Bentley, WA 6845, Australia
- School of Animal Biology, University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia
| | - Philip C. Withers
- Department of Environment and Agriculture, Curtin University, Bentley, WA 6845, Australia
- School of Animal Biology, University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia
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Knight K. Chestnut-crowned babblers huddle for comfort. J Exp Biol 2016. [DOI: 10.1242/jeb.151423] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
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