In group living species animals commonly compete for limited resources such as food (Darwin 1859). Winning competition for food may be beneficial for an individuals survival or reproductive success (Williams 1966; Clutton-Brock 1988; Metcalfe et al 1995) but conflict with group members may be costly as it typically involves aggression (Huntingford&Turner 1987, Mesterton-Gibbons&Adams 1998). Asymmetries between individuals are predicted to determine the outcome of competition (Maynard-Smith&Parker 1976), and individuals are expected to steal food when the benefit to them is greatest (Barnard 1984; Trivers 1972). I therefore investigate what determines the outcome of competition for food between group members, and what factors affect whether group members try to steal food in the cooperatively breeding meerkat (Suricatta suricatta). Meerkats competed for food items infrequently and the owner of a food item typically won competition, but dominant individuals and breeding females were more likely to win competition than other group members. This provides support for models of conflict over resources in group living species which predict that ownership may determine the outcome of competition, thereby avoiding frequent costly conflict (Maynard-Smith 1982). Furthermore, where large asymmetries exist between contestants in dominance status or the value of a resource, these may determine the outcome of competition (Maynard-Smith&Parker 1976; Grafen 1987). Meerkats varied in how frequently they tried to steal food depending upon the costs and benefits of competition. Dominant individuals competed for food more frequently which is likely to reflect reduced costs of competition as subordinate individuals may avoid conflict with them (Packer&Pusey 1985). Females competed for food more frequently than males and more frequently during breeding, reflecting the higher costs of reproduction to females compared to males (Williams 1966; Trivers 1972). Meerkats compete more frequently for food when food availability is low, which indicates that food items may be more valuable when they are rare. Meerkats in smaller groups competed more frequently. In cooperatively breeding species group members undertake a large number of costly helping behaviours. Individuals in small groups each contribute more effort to helping than individuals in large groups and suffer higher costs which may increase the benefit of food to them (Clutton-Brock et al 1998a; Clutton-Brock et al 2001a). Competition for the opportunity to breed in cooperatively breeding meerkats has resulted in despotic dominance hierarchies where a dominant female monopolises breeding and reproductively suppresses subordinates (Clutton-Brock et al 2001b). Dominant females stole more food than any other group members. This is likely to be a consequence of the high costs of reproduction for the dominant breeding female in species with high reproductive skew (Creel&Creel 1991; Clutton-Brock et al 2001b). Furthermore, dominant females were more aggressive and more successful in competition for food with their reproductive competitors. Dominant females may therefore use competition for food as a means of asserting dominance over their reproductive competitors which could contribute to reproductive suppression (Creel et al 1992; Williams 2004; Kutsukake&Clutton-Brock 2006b; Young et al 2006). / Dissertation (MSc)--University of Pretoria, 2011. / Zoology and Entomology / unrestricted

Cooperation often draws on cognition (i.e. learning and memory) in order to track cooperative partners and their contributions, resolve conflict between partners, improve coordination between partners, and enhance strategic-decision making. Learning and memory are also vital to resolve what is frequently a spatial and temporal mismatch between performing a cooperative act and receiving any kind of benefit in return. In this thesis, I compared cognitive abilities between three cooperative and group-living cichlid fishes from the Lamprologini tribe of Lake Tanganyika Neolamprologus pulcher, Neolamprologus multifasciatus, and Julidochromis ornatus with three of their close relatives that are not cooperative and never form groups Telmatochromis temporalis, Altolamprologus compressiceps, and Neolamprologus tretocephalus. This thesis aims to address whether the evolution of cooperation coincided with the evolution of sophisticated cognition in these fishes. In Chapter 2, I present evidence that both cooperative and non-cooperative cichlids are able to recognize familiar individuals and have similar numerical abilities. In Chapter 3, I show that performance when learning to navigate a maze, arguably a more general cognitive ability, was equivalent across cooperative and non-cooperative species, with comparable scores in terms of time to maze completion, number of mistakes and inhibitory control. In Chapter 4, I report on the results of a literature review where I quantified the growing interest in the field of fish cognition research, outline the current practices and pitfalls (heavy use of captive bred individuals and a reliance on lab-based research) and suggest how to bring more ecological relevance to the field. Taken together, the results of my thesis improve our understanding of how social factors like group-living and cooperation modulate cognitive abilities, and detail the current trajectory of the field of fish cognition. / Thesis / Master of Science (MSc)

Group living is a social strategy adopted by many species, where individuals can exhibit long-term social affiliation with others, strengthened through cooperative behaviour and often kinship. For highly social mammals, changes in group membership may have significant consequences for the long-term viability and functioning of a population. Detecting significant social events is essential for monitoring the social dynamics of such populations and is crucial to determining the factors underlying these events. Detecting when changes in social organization occur, especially with incomplete data, poses significant analytical challenges. To resolve this issue, I developed and assessed a straightforward, multi-stage and generalizable method with broad utility for ecologists interested in detecting and subsequently investigating causes of changes in social organization. My approach illustrates the frequency and ecological relevance of group fission and fusion events in a population of fish-eating ‘Resident’ killer whales (Orcinus orca). Group fission is a process commonly found in social mammals, yet is poorly described in many taxa, and has never been formally described in killer whales. To address this gap, I provided the first description of matrilineal fission in killer whales, from a threatened but growing Northern Resident killer whale population in which matrilineal fission has been observed for the past three decades. I also undertook the first comprehensive assessment of how killer whale intragroup cohesion is influenced by group structure, demography and resource abundance. Fission in Northern Resident killer whales occurred both along and across maternal lines, where animals dispersed in parallel with their closest maternal kin. I show that fission in this population is driven primarily by population growth and the demographic conditions of groups, particularly those dictating the nutritional requirements of the group. I posit that intragroup food competition is the most likely explanation for group fission in this population, where prey abundance also has ancillary effects. As group fission can have a direct impact on the fitness of group members and the long-term viability of a population, my findings underscore the importance of incorporating studies of sociality into the management of threatened populations of social mammals. / Graduate / 0329 / 0472

京都大学 / 0048 / 新制・課程博士 / 博士(理学) / 甲第18674号 / 理博第4023号 / 新制||理||1580(附属図書館) / 31607 / 京都大学大学院理学研究科生物科学専攻 / (主査)准教授 中川 尚史, 教授 中務 真人, 教授 高橋 淑子 / 学位規則第4条第1項該当 / Doctor of Science / Kyoto University / DFAM

Made available in DSpace on 2016-04-27T18:47:32Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Juliana Santos Graciani.pdf: 823686 bytes, checksum: 5295f3e053e62aa68d825edf52015510 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2009-05-14 / This study is aimed to reflect on the aging process in the elderlies and the importance of participation in the Group of Women Living Project Bus Entertaiment-Bau Encantado, an intervention by the Community Works of PUC / SP Center, built on the assumption that the aging is a process involving the biopsychosocial dimensions. In the globalized society aging can foster exclusion but point also to the possibility of social and community participation as a strategy for coping with inequality. It has been used qualitative methodology and procedures in this research, as the method of participant observation and interviews. The fieldwork has been conducted in the New Community Pantanal, with elderly women participants from the Group of Women Living. The choice of participants has been based upon the time which they have integrated into the group and their self-acceptance of taking part in the Project study. The analysis has been conducted taking into consideration four major categories from the data gathered: personal relationships, family, community and their relationship with the aging process. The discussion of the data collected revealed that the family occupies a central space into their lives where special emphasis is given to the husbands. Domestic violence is also considered as part of reality. Old age appears as a natural stage of human development, mainly associated with diseases and physical disabilities. It s recognize the situation of rights violation and their relationship with the reality of poverty. The participation in the project is valued for promoting personal change in terms of self-confidence, self-esteem, self-recovery and availability of income to support their family. Highlights also the importance of social viewpoint where participation is needed in order to promote the necessary neighborhood changes. The Group of Women Living has been a social space to overcome the fear of learning new skills, the conquest of sociability, the practice of solidarity and the possibility of acquiring a new profession. Therefore, from taking part in the Living Group the elderly establishes new relationship with themselves, with their own aging process, among the group and the community, creating a new role and social function / Este estudo teve como objetivo refletir sobre o processo de envelhecimento de pessoas idosas e a importância da participação no Grupo de Convivência de Mulheres do Projeto Ônibus Ludicidade- Baú Encantado, uma intervenção do Núcleo de Trabalhos Comunitários da PUC/SP, partindo do pressuposto que o envelhecimento é um processo que envolve as dimensões biopsicossocial. Na sociedade globalizada o envelhecimento pode favorecer a exclusão embora aponte, também, para a possibilidade da participação social e comunitária como uma estratégia de enfrentamento da situação de desigualdade. Utilizou-se, nesta pesquisa, a metodologia qualitativa e como procedimentos a técnica da observação participante e entrevistas. A pesquisa de campo foi realizada na Comunidade Nova Pantanal, com idosas participantes do Grupo de Convivência de Mulheres. A escolha dos sujeitos teve como critério o tempo de integração no Projeto e a aceitação para participar da pesquisa. A análise foi realizada destacando quatro grandes categorias a partir dos dados obtidos, considerando: relações pessoais, familiares, comunitárias e as relações com o envelhecimento. A discussão dos dados revelou que a família ocupa um espaço central na vida dos sujeitos, sendo que os maridos recebem destaque especial. A violência doméstica também se revela como parte da realidade estudada. A velhice aparece como uma fase natural do desenvolvimento humano, principalmente associada a doenças e incapacidades físicas. Reconhecem a situação de violação de direitos e a sua relação com a realidade da pobreza. A participação no Projeto é valorizada por ter promovido mudanças pessoais no que tange a confiança, auto-estima, auto-valorização e disponibilidade de renda para o sustento da família. Destaca-se, do ponto de vista social a participação nos processos de mudanças no bairro. O Grupo de Convivência de Mulheres representou um espaço social de superação do medo de aprender novas habilidades, a conquista da sociabilidade, da prática da solidariedade e da possibilidade de aquisição de uma nova profissão. Portanto, a partir da participação no Grupo de Convivência o idoso estabelece novas relações consigo, com seu processo de envelhecer, no grupo e na comunidade, criando um novo papel e função social

Thesis (MSc (Botany and Zoology))--University of Stellenbosch, 2006. / The role of the southern harvester termite, Microhodotermes viator, and several climatic parameters in the distribution of the group-living lizard, Cordylus cataphractus, was investigated. Microhodotermes viator is considered the most important prey item of C. cataphractus and termitophagy as the causative agent in the evolution of group-living in this species. One would therefore expect a high degree of correspondence in the ranges of C. cataphractus and M. viator. As climate will also play a role in the distribution of any species, various climatic variables were investigated to determine their influence on the distribution of C. cataphractus. Species distributions were visualized using the minimum polygon technique and the degree of overlap was determined using standard geographic information systems (GIS) techniques. A total of 53 C. cataphractus localities were investigated for the presence of termites. The climatic limits of the geographical distribution of C. cataphractus were investigated by means of three models, namely Classification Trees, General Discriminant Analysis and Logistic Regression. The range of C. cataphractus was completely included within the range of M. viator Microhodotermes viator was included in the diet of C. cataphractus at 73 % of the localities sampled within the lizard’s range. The current geographical range of C. cataphractus is mainly correlated with two climatic factors, namely the low summer rainfall and high monthly solar radiation. The restricting role of both these factors can be directly linked to the group-living nature of C. cataphractus. If termitophagy were the overarching cause of group-living in C. cataphractus, then one would expect a close relationship between termite density and lizard density and termite density and lizard group size. I investigated these relationships at both a local and regional scale. For the local scale study, 25 quadrats of 25 × 25 m were plotted at a selected site, and for the regional scale study, ten 35 × 35 m quadrats at sites throughout the lizard’s range were used. In each quadrat, a range of variables were recorded, the most important of which were lizard density, lizard group sizes, termite foraging port density, distance to nearest termite foraging ports, vegetation height and vegetation cover. I found that the density of termite foraging ports determines C. cataphractus density. Vegetation height and cover affects crevice selection by C. cataphractus groups, probably because an unobstructed view is necessary to locate termite activity at foraging ports. I also investigated possible differences in the use of termites by different sized groups of C. cataphractus during different times of the year. Faecal samples, collected once a month at Eland’s Bay from small, medium and large groups from January 2005 to December 2005, were analysed for the presence of termite head material. I found that large groups fed on termites to a greater extent than small groups during certain times of the year and there was a general tendency for this phenomenon throughout the year. The results collected in this study indicate that the southern harvester termite, M. viator, plays a central role in the ecology of the group-living lizard, C. cataphractus.

Meerkat (Suricata suricatta) is a mongoose species from South Africa. Insects are the primary food sources of their diet. Meerkat lives in groups of 2?30 individuals with a developed social structure. The group consists of a dominant pair and a different number of helpers of both sexes, which are involved in various forms of cooperation, for example care for cubs, guard service and maintaince of burrow. Meerkats are at risk of predation by mammalian predators, avian predators and snakes. One meerkat always seems to be a sentry and stands guard to keep the gang safe. When the guard senses danger they give a warning bark and the other members run for cover into their burrow. This study was done from June to September 2011 in zoo in Jihlava on a group of meerkats, which consisted of 13 individuals. There was used the method of direct observation by a scanning behaviour (behaviour sampling). Observation was specialized on sentinel behaviour. The main aim of this work was evaluate the results of observation and then compare this results with behaviour in the wild. By monitoring was demonstrably found, that dominant individuals contributed to guarding more frequently and the longest time and the juveniles contributed at least. There wasn´t set order in guarding. The most often was individually guarding or guarding in a group of 2 or 3 individuals.

In killer whales, fish- versus mammal-eating ecological differences are regarded as key ecological drivers of sociality, but the potential influence of specific target prey characteristics remains unclear. This thesis aimed to study the social patterns and dynamics of Icelandic killer whales feeding upon herring, a schooling prey that undergoes frequent changes in distribution and school size. I used a multi-disciplinary approach combining photo-identification and genetic data to understand the sociality, role of kinship and genetic differentiation within the population. Individuals sighted in summer-spawning and overwintering herring grounds during at least five separate days (N = 198) were considered associated if photographed within 20 seconds of each other. Photo-identified individuals were genotyped (N = 61) for 22 microsatellites and mitochondrial DNA control region (611 bp). The population had weak but non-random associations, fission-fusion dynamics at the individual level and seasonal patterns of preferred associations. The society was significantly structured but not hierarchically. Social clusters were highly diverse and, whilst kinship was correlated with association, it was not a prerequisite for social membership. Indeed, some cluster members had different mitochondrial haplotypes, representing separate maternal lineages. Individuals with different observed movement patterns were genetically distinct, but associated with each other. No sex-biased dispersal or inbreeding was detected. This study revealed that the Icelandic population has a multilevel society without clear hierarchical tiers or nested coherent social units, different from the well-studied salmon- (‘residents') and seal-eating populations in the Northeast Pacific. In the Icelandic population kinship drives social structure less strongly than in residents. These findings suggest effective foraging on schooling herring in seasonal grounds promotes the formation of flexible social groupings which can include non-kin. Killer whale sociality may be strongly influenced by local ecological context, such as the characteristics of the specific target prey (e.g., predictability, biomass, and density) and subsequent foraging strategies of the population.

No description available.