Deferred benefits of dominance for natal males in a cooperative breeder, the Kalahari meerkat

Abstract

In many cooperatively breeding mammals, an unrelated dominant pair monopolizes reproduction in the social group while subordinates help to raise their offspring. In Kalahari meerkats (Suricata suricatta), dominant males are usually immigrants while dominant females are natal animals that have not left the group where they were born. However, in around 20% of cases, a natal male acquires and holds the dominant positiondespite being closely related to the dominant female. Natal dominant males seldom mate within their group (either with the dominant female or with subordinate females) and the benefits they accrue from acquiring and maintaining the dominant position are not obvious. Here, we describe the circumstances in which natal males acquire dominance and explore the possible benefits they gain by comparing the life history, growth and behavioural differences between natal dominants, natal subordinates and immigrant dominants in wild groups. We show that natal dominant males do not appear to obtain any survival, nutritional or reproductive benefits from their status while they remain in the natal group. However, after dispersing from their natal group, they have a higher chance of acquiring dominant status in another breeding group, suggesting that acquiring dominance in their natal group has deferred direct fitness benefits for male meerkats.

Dominance loss and tenure maintenance in Kalahari meerkats

“…Though males can acquire behavioral dominance in their natal groups, “natal” dominant males rarely breed with resident females there, and the principal benefit of dominance status appears to be that it is associated with an increase in the probability that individuals will subsequently acquire dominance in another group ( Spence-Jones et al 2021 ). Since the aim of this study was to explore the factors affecting the tenure of dominant breeders of each sex, we consequently did not include tenures where a male acquired behavioral dominance in their natal group in our analyses ( n = 57).…”

“…The life histories of male meerkats follow a different course. As female meerkats avoid mating with familiar males in their natal groups ( Griffin et al 2003 ; Spence-Jones et al 2021 ), males must disperse from their birth groups to search for breeding opportunities in other groups, often forming dispersing coalitions with other males in their group, who are frequently their siblings ( Young et al 2007 ; Mares et al 2014 ). Males can acquire dominance at a new group formed with dispersing females, or (unlike females) can join established groups, either by filling a dominance vacancy or by forcing out the incumbent dominant male in an external takeover ( Spong et al 2008 ; Mares et al 2012 ).…”