Reproductive state does not influence activity budgets of eusocial Ansell's mole-rats, Fukomys anselli (Rodentia, Bathyergidae): A study of locomotor activity by means of RFID

Schielke, Charlotte K.M.; Begall, Sabine; Burda, Hynek

doi:10.1016/j.mambio.2011.09.004

Cited by 16 publications

(16 citation statements)

References 33 publications

(33 reference statements)

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…[12], [29], [30]). On the contrary, no differences in the amount of activity between breeders and non-breeders were found in captive F. anselli [14], [31]. In Cryptomys hottentotus the breeders were even the most active individuals in a family group [32].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 75%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Spatial and Temporal Activity Patterns of the Free-Living Giant Mole-Rat (Fukomys mechowii), the Largest Social Bathyergid

2013

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Despite the considerable attention devoted to the biology of social species of African mole-rats (Bathyergidae, Rodentia), knowledge is lacking about their behaviour under natural conditions. We studied activity of the largest social bathyergid, the giant mole-rat Fukomys mechowii, in its natural habitat in Zambia using radio-telemetry. We radio-tracked six individuals during three continuous 72-h sessions. Five of these individuals, including a breeding male, belonged to a single family group; the remaining female was probably a solitary disperser. The non-breeders of the family were active (i.e. outside the nest) 5.8 hours per 24h-day with the activity split into 6.5 short bouts. The activity was more concentrated in the night hours, when the animals also travelled longer distances from the nest. The breeding male spent only 3.2 hours per day outside the nest, utilizing less than 20% of the whole family home range. The dispersing female displayed a much different activity pattern than the family members. Her 8.0 hours of outside-nest activity per day were split into 4.6 bouts which were twice as long as in the family non-breeders. Her activity peak in the late afternoon coincided with the temperature maximum in the depth of 10 cm (roughly the depth of the foraging tunnels). Our results suggest that the breeding individuals (at least males) contribute very little to the work of the family group. Nevertheless, the amount of an individual's activity and its daily pattern are probably flexible in this species and can be modified in response to actual environmental and social conditions.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 75%

“…[11], [12]), but several exceptions were reported (e.g. [13], [14]). To better understand this phenomenon, more data are necessary from free-living mole-rat family groups.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 98%

Spatial and Temporal Activity Patterns of the Free-Living Giant Mole-Rat (Fukomys mechowii), the Largest Social Bathyergid

2013

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Moreover, they exhibit pronounced sociopositive behaviors like grooming and huddling between all family members [ 19 ]. Moreover, previous studies showed that daily activity between breeders and non-breeders does not show differences, and social rank does not influence life expectancy [ 18 , 20 , 21 ]. Hence, extrinsic factors like aggression, fighting and higher workload in non-breeders are not likely to influence the lifespan difference in first-place.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Higher resting metabolic rate in long-lived breeding Ansell’s mole-rats (Fukomys anselli)

et al. 2017

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

BackgroundReproduction is an energetically expensive process that supposedly impairs somatic integrity in the long term, because resources are limited and have to be allocated between reproduction and somatic maintenance, as predicted by the life history trade-off model. The consequence of reduced investment in somatic maintenance is a gradual deterioration of function, i.e. senescence. However, this classical trade-off model gets challenged by an increasing number of contradicting studies. Here we report about an animal model, which adds more complexity to the ongoing debate. Ansell’s mole-rats are long-lived social subterranean rodents with only the founder pair reproducing, while most of their offspring remain in the parental burrow system and do not breed. Despite of a clear reproductive trade-off, breeders live up to twice as long as non-breeders, a unique feature amongst mammals.MethodsWe investigated mass-specific resting metabolic rates (msRMR) of breeders and non-breeders to gain information about the physiological basis underlying the reproduction-associated longevity in Ansell’s mole-rats. We assessed the thermoneutral zone (TNZ) for breeders and non-breeders separately by means of indirect calorimetry. We applied generalized linear mixed-effects models for repeated measurements using the msRMR in the respective TNZs.ResultsTNZ differed between reproductive and non-reproductive Ansell’s mole-rats. Contrary to classical aging models, the shorter-lived non-breeders had significantly lower msRMR within the thermoneutral zone compared to breeders.ConclusionThis is the first study reporting a positive correlation between msRMR and lifespan based on reproductive status. Our finding contradicts common aging theories, but supports recently introduced models which do not necessarily link reproductive trade-offs to lifespan reduction.

show abstract

“…Accordingly, distinct energetic requirements should result in discrete activity budgets (Robinson 1986;Melcher et al 1990;Scantlebury et al 2008). While much is known about behavioral tactics of helpers regarding helping (Reyer 1980;Goldizen 1987;Taborsky & Grantner 1998), only few studies directly compare activity budgets of individuals following different social tactics (but see: Dammann et al 2011;Schielke et al 2012). While much is known about behavioral tactics of helpers regarding helping (Reyer 1980;Goldizen 1987;Taborsky & Grantner 1998), only few studies directly compare activity budgets of individuals following different social tactics (but see: Dammann et al 2011;Schielke et al 2012).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Young individuals, for example, often spend more time foraging than adults to sustain somatic growth (Robinson 1986;Shi et al 2003). While much is known about behavioral tactics of helpers regarding helping (Reyer 1980;Goldizen 1987;Taborsky & Grantner 1998), only few studies directly compare activity budgets of individuals following different social tactics (but see: Dammann et al 2011;Schielke et al 2012).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Young But Not Old Adult African Striped Mice Reduce Their Activity in the Dry Season When Food Availability is Low

et al. 2016

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

An individual′s survival and fitness depend on its ability to effectively allocate its time between competing behaviors. Sex, social tactic, season and food availability are important factors influencing activity budgets. However, few field studies have tested their influences. The African striped mouse (Rhabdomys pumilio) lives in highly seasonal habitats in southern Africa, and individuals can adopt different social tactics. We investigated seasonal changes in activity budgets of different tactics and predicted that individuals will reduce their activity in the non‐breeding season to save energy when food availability is low and that young non‐breeding adults (‘philopatrics’) invest mainly in activities related to gaining body mass to increase survival probability. We predicted old adults (‘breeders’), which bred during the previous breeding season, to invest mainly in maintenance of their social status. We conducted 90 focal observations during the non‐breeding season and 73 during the breeding season. Activity budgets of striped mice were season and tactic specific, with philopatrics, but not breeders, reducing activity when food availability was low, possibly to decrease energy expenditure. Philopatrics of both sexes foraged and basked more in the breeding season than during the non‐breeding season. Male philopatrics gained body mass and female philopatrics maintained their body mass in both seasons. Sex‐specific differences occurred during the breeding season, when female breeders foraged more than male breeders, while male breeders chased other individuals more than female breeders. These findings indicate that individuals adopting different social tactics display distinct behaviors to fulfill tactic‐specific energetic needs.

show abstract

Reproductive state does not influence activity budgets of eusocial Ansell's mole-rats, Fukomys anselli (Rodentia, Bathyergidae): A study of locomotor activity by means of RFID

Cited by 16 publications

References 33 publications

Spatial and Temporal Activity Patterns of the Free-Living Giant Mole-Rat (Fukomys mechowii), the Largest Social Bathyergid

Spatial and Temporal Activity Patterns of the Free-Living Giant Mole-Rat (Fukomys mechowii), the Largest Social Bathyergid

Higher resting metabolic rate in long-lived breeding Ansell’s mole-rats (Fukomys anselli)

Young But Not Old Adult African Striped Mice Reduce Their Activity in the Dry Season When Food Availability is Low

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About