Association patterns and kinship in female reindeer (Rangifer tarandus) during rut

Djaković, Nataša; Holand, Øystein; Hovland, Anne Lene; Røed, Knut; Weladji, Robert B.; Fjeldstad, Espen; Nieminen, Mauri

doi:10.1007/s10211-011-0121-x

Cited by 11 publications

(4 citation statements)

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“…Furthermore, we found a contradictory pattern in social association strength for female caribou (P5), where individuals associated more closely with more differently sized conspecifics. Although we do not have relatedness or dominance hierarchy data for our population, the unexpected size-specific pattern of association we found may emerge from either kin based patterns of grouping (Djaković et al 2012) or it could be the result of larger females associating with smaller females as a means to assert dominance (Barrette & Vandal, 1986). Indeed, caribou often form groups of loosely related kin (Djaković et al 2012), while larger body size is often associated with dominance (Barrette & Vandal, 1986).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 81%

“…Although we do not have relatedness or dominance hierarchy data for our population, the unexpected size-specific pattern of association we found may emerge from either kin based patterns of grouping (Djaković et al 2012) or it could be the result of larger females associating with smaller females as a means to assert dominance (Barrette & Vandal, 1986). Indeed, caribou often form groups of loosely related kin (Djaković et al 2012), while larger body size is often associated with dominance (Barrette & Vandal, 1986). For smaller individuals, associating with dominant individuals may provide access to higher food quality (Barrette & Vandal, 1986) via social information transfer about the location and quality of food (i.e., the conspecific attraction hypothesis: Peignier et al, 2019).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 81%

“…Indeed, caribou often form groups of loosely related kin (Djaković et al 2012), while larger body size is often associated with dominance (Barrette & Vandal, 1986). For smaller individuals, associating with dominant individuals may provide access to higher food quality (Barrette & Vandal, 1986) via social information transfer about the location and quality of food (i.e., the conspecific attraction hypothesis: Peignier et al, 2019).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Environmental, social, and morphological drivers of fission-fusion dynamics in a social ungulate

Goff

Hendrix

Webber

et al. 2022

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Social groups exist because individuals within the group accrue a net benefit from sharing space. The profitability of sociality, however, varies with ecological context. As ecological context varies, tension emerges among the costs and benefits of social grouping. Fission-fusion societies are fluid in their group dynamics across spatial and temporal contexts, permitting insights into how context affects whether animals choose to join or depart a group. We tested four non-mutually exclusive hypotheses driving variation in fission and fusion in caribou: the risky places, environment heterogeneity, activity budget, and social familiarity hypotheses. The risky places hypothesis predicts animals are unlikely to diffuse when habitats are open and risk of predation is elevated. The habitat heterogeneity hypothesis predicts that fission is more likely in a heterogeneous landscape due to the rising conflicts of interest between group members. The activity budget hypothesis predicts dyads associate by body size due to similar food passage rates. The social cohesion hypothesis predicts that familiar individuals are less likely to fission. We tested the hypotheses using time-to-event (time before fission) analyses and a linear model that assesses spatial, social, and body size relationships among female caribou (n = 22) on Fogo Island, Newfoundland, Canada. Contrary to our prediction for risky places, probability of fission was not influenced by habitat openness. The hypothesis of environmental heterogeneity was partially supported, as caribou remained less cohesive in environments with a higher richness of habitats. No direct evidence emerged to support the activity budget hypothesis. However, it appears that caribou maintain the strongest social bonds among variably sized individuals and these social bonds do decrease the propensity to split. Collectively, our findings showed that social interactions may depend not only on individual identity and characteristics, but also the spatial context in which these interactions occur.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 81%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 81%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Environmental, social, and morphological drivers of fission-fusion dynamics in a social ungulate

Goff

Hendrix

Webber

et al. 2022

Preprint

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“…staying in a cohesive group) outweigh the benefits expected from reaching a desired patch [62] . In this predator-free reindeer herd, females maintain weak social bonds [63] , the group size does not decrease the harassment level, and food patches are widely dispersed. Consequently, there are few benefits expected from social cohesion which may explain the high fission rate observed.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 94%

Highly Competitive Reindeer Males Control Female Behavior during the Rut

et al. 2014

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During the rut, female ungulates move among harems or territories, either to sample mates or to avoid harassment. Females may be herded by a male, may stay with a preferred male, or aggregate near a dominant male to avoid harassment from other males. In fission-fusion group dynamics, female movement is best described by the group’s fission probability, instead of inter-harem movement. In this study, we tested whether male herding ability, female mate choice or harassment avoidance influence fission probability. We recorded group dynamics in a herd of reindeer Rangifer tarandus equipped with GPS collars with activity sensors. We found no evidence that the harassment level in the group affected fission probability, or that females sought high rank (i.e. highly competitive and hence successful) males. However, the behavior of high ranked males decreased fission probability. Male herding activity was synchronous with the decrease of fission probability observed during the rut. We concluded that male herding behavior stabilized groups, thereby increasing average group size and consequently the opportunity for sexual selection.

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