Factors affecting pup growth and survival in co‐operatively breeding meerkats <i>Suricata suricatta</i>

Russell, Andrew F.; Clutton‐Brock, Tim; Brotherton, Peter; Sharpe, Lynda L.; McIlrath, G. M.; Dalerum, Fredrik; Cameron, Elissa Z.; Barnard, Jordan

doi:10.1046/j.1365-2656.2002.00636.x

Cited by 191 publications

(190 citation statements)

References 22 publications

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“…Group size positively relates to survival of individuals and groups also in other highly social animals (e.g. in cooperatively breeding dwarf mongooses [54] and meerkats [12,55], and in social spiders [42,56]). However, a lack of survival benefits from large group size (e.g.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

First- and second-order sociality determine survival and reproduction in cooperative cichlids

Jungwirth¹,

Taborsky²

2015

Proc. R. Soc. B.

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Cooperative breeders serve as a model to study the evolution of cooperation, where costs and benefits of helping are typically scrutinized at the level of group membership. However, cooperation is often observed in multi-level social organizations involving interactions among individuals at various levels. Here, we argue that a full understanding of the adaptive value of cooperation and the evolution of complex social organization requires identifying the effect of different levels of social organization on direct and indirect fitness components. Our long-term field data show that in the cooperatively breeding, colonial cichlid fish Neolamprologus pulcher, both large group size and high colony density significantly raised group persistence. Neither group size nor density affected survival at the individual level, but they had interactive effects on reproductive output; large group size raised productivity when local population density was low, whereas in contrast, small groups were more productive at high densities. Fitness estimates of individually marked fish revealed indirect fitness benefits associated with staying in large groups. Inclusive fitness, however, was not significantly affected by group size, because the direct fitness component was not increased in larger groups. Together, our findings highlight that the reproductive output of groups may be affected in opposite directions by different levels of sociality, and that complex forms of sociality and costly cooperation may evolve in the absence of large indirect fitness benefits and the influence of kin selection.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

First- and second-order sociality determine survival and reproduction in cooperative cichlids

Jungwirth¹,

Taborsky²

2015

Proc. R. Soc. B.

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“…In this study, I therefore investigate whether fork-tailed drongos employ their own and mimicked false alarm calls in kleptoparasitism and test the three predictions outlined above to determine whether these false alarm calls are deceptive. [20]. The study population consisted of 50 drongos habituated to close observation (less than 5 m), that had been captured and given individually unique colour rings.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Fork-tailed drongos use deceptive mimicked alarm calls to steal food

2010

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Despite the prevalence of vocal mimicry in animals, few functions for this behaviour have been shown. I propose a novel hypothesis that false mimicked alarm calls could be used deceptively to scare other species and steal their food. Studies have previously suggested that animals use their own species-specific alarm calls to steal food. However none have shown conclusively that these false alarms are deceptive, or that mimicked alarm calls are used in this manner. Here, I show that wild fork-tailed drongos (Dicrurus adsimilis) make both drongo-specific and mimicked false alarm calls when watching target species handling food, in response to which targets flee to cover abandoning their food. The drongo-specific and mimicked calls made in false alarms were structurally indistinguishable from calls made during true alarms at predators by drongos and other species. Furthermore, I demonstrate by playback experiments that two of these species, meerkats (Suricata suricatta) and pied babblers (Turdoides bicolor), are deceived by both drongo-specific and mimicked false alarm calls. These results provide the first conclusive evidence that false alarm calls are deceptive and demonstrate a novel function for vocal mimicry. This work also provides valuable insight into the benefits of deploying variable mimetic signals in deceptive communication.

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“…In this study, we investigated the alarm call production of Cape ground squirrels ("Alarm Call Production in Cape Ground Squirrels"), tested their responses to different alarm calls ("Responses to Playback of Alarm Calls in Cape Ground Squirrels"), and collected data on vigilance, antipredator behavior, and habitat use that could influence the evolution of alarm call systems in Cape ground squirrels and meerkats ("Behavioral Comparisons between Cape Ground Squirrels and Meerkats"). Russell et al 2002). The study population consisted of 18 groups of Cape ground squirrels, ranging from three to 16 nonhabituated individuals.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Evolution of Urgency‐Based and Functionally Referential Alarm Calls in Ground‐Dwelling Species

Furrer

Manser

2009

The American Naturalist

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A major evolutionary force driving functionally referential alarm calls is the need for different strategies to escape various predator types in complex structured habitats. In contrast, a single escape strategy appears to be sufficient in less-structured open habitats, and under such conditions urgency-dependent alarm calls may be favored. Nevertheless, some species, such as meerkats (Suricata suricatta), have evolved functionally referential alarm calls despite living in open areas, using only bolt-holes for retreat. To understand the evolution of different alarm call systems, we investigated the calls of sympatric Cape ground squirrels (Xerus inauris) and compared their antipredator and foraging behavior with that of meerkats. Cape ground squirrels emitted urgency-dependent alarm calls and responded to playbacks depending on urgency, not predator type. Vigilance behavior and habitat use differed between the two species. Meerkats roam widely to find prey and for efficient foraging depend on coordinated predator vigilance and escape behavior. As herbivores with smaller territories, Cape ground squirrels depend less on coordinated antipredator behavior, and urgency-dependent alarm calls encode all essential information. We conclude that habitat complexity does not explain the evolution of functionally referential alarm calls in all species, and other constraints, such as the need to coordinate group movements to maintain foraging efficiency, could be more relevant. Meerkats roam widely to find prey and for efficient foraging depend on coordinated predator vigilance and escape behavior. As herbivores with smaller territories, Cape ground squirrels depend less on coordinated antipredator behavior, and urgency-dependent alarm calls encode all essential information. We conclude that habitat complexity does not explain the evolution of functionally referential alarm calls in all species, and other constraints, such as the need to coordinate group movements to maintain foraging efficiency, could be more relevant.

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Factors affecting pup growth and survival in co‐operatively breeding meerkats Suricata suricatta

Cited by 191 publications

References 22 publications

First- and second-order sociality determine survival and reproduction in cooperative cichlids

First- and second-order sociality determine survival and reproduction in cooperative cichlids

Fork-tailed drongos use deceptive mimicked alarm calls to steal food

The Evolution of Urgency‐Based and Functionally Referential Alarm Calls in Ground‐Dwelling Species

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