Patterns of nest box sharing in woodland dormice (Graphiurus murinus): Evidence for intra-sexual tolerance and communal nesting

Madikiza, Zimkitha J.K.; San, Emmanuel Do Linh

doi:10.1016/j.beproc.2020.104141

Cited by 2 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 34 publications

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“…There is an historic discussion about whether nest sharing in clusters has a bioenergetic significance (i.e., a heat-conservation strategy) or represents a by-product of the benefits of group living (Dausmann and Glos, 2015; Ebensperger, 2001; Franco et al, 2011; Gilbert et al, 2010; Heenan and Seymour, 2011; Lubbe et al, 2018; Madikiza and San, 2020; Olson et al, 2018; Selonen et al, 2014; Vickery and Millar, 1984; Vogt and Lynch, 1982; Willis and Brigham, 2007; Withers and Jarvis, 1980). The problem arises because often, species with advanced levels of sociality also benefit from clustering during cold periods.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The problem arises because often, species with advanced levels of sociality also benefit from clustering during cold periods. For instance, in the dormouse ( Glis glis ) social clustering seems to be explained by mating behavior rather than by thermoregulatory benefits (Madikiza and San, 2020), and in North American flying squirrels (genus Glaucomys ), interspecific social nestling appear to mainly driven by their sociality (Olson et al, 2018; Selonen et al, 2014). However, in birds, it has been documented that social thermoregulation combined with the use of insulative roosts and nests, provide energy savings over 50%, compared with isolated birds outside nests (Lubbe et al, 2018).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Huddling nest use are the optimal strategies for heat conservation in a social marsupial: lessons from biophysical models

Nespolo

Peña

Mejías

et al. 2022

Preprint

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Endothermy, understood as the maintenance of continuous and high body temperatures (TB) due to the combination of metabolic heat production and an insulative cover, is severely challenged in small endotherms of cold environments. As a response, social clustering, and nest use (collectively, communal nesting) are common strategies for heat conservation in small mammals and birds. To quantify the actual amount of energy that is saved by communal nesting, we studied the social marsupial Dromiciops gliroides (monito del monte), a relict marsupial species from the cold forests of southern South America. It is hypothesized that sociability in this marsupial was driven by the cold, for which we calculated the energetic benefits that communal nesting confers. Using biophysical models and experimental coolings, we simulated heat exchanges experienced by grouped or solitary individuals, and also individuals within nests, collected from the field. Assuming a model of passive cooling, we calculated the net energy cost of euthermic maintenance (Ecost: the total energy needed to maintain euthermia). We adjusted 50 cooling curves, to exponential decay models, and found in all cases that the strategy minimizing heat loss is to be clustered within a nest, for which the Ecost was the minimum. This was significantly lower than the clustered condition, outside the nest, a reduction that represents almost half of energy consumption per day in a resting, thermoneutral condition for this marsupial. Overall, our results suggest that the strategy that significantly maximized heat conservation, compared with alternative strategies, was communal nesting. These findings support the idea that, in this social mammal, sociality is driven by bioenergetic benefits.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Huddling nest use are the optimal strategies for heat conservation in a social marsupial: lessons from biophysical models

Nespolo

Peña

Mejías

et al. 2022

Preprint

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…There is a historic discussion about whether nest sharing in clusters has a bioenergetic significance (i.e. a heat-conservation strategy) or represents a by-product of the benefits of group living ( Dausmann and Glos, 2015 ; Ebensperger, 2001 ; Franco et al, 2011 ; Gilbert et al, 2010 ; Heenan and Seymour, 2011 ; Lubbe et al, 2018 ; Madikiza and San, 2020 ; Olson et al, 2018 ; Selonen et al, 2014 ; Vickery and Millar, 1984 ; Vogt and Lynch, 1982 ; Willis and Brigham, 2007 ; Withers and Jarvis, 1980 ). The problem arises because often, species with advanced levels of sociality also benefit from clustering during cold periods.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The problem arises because often, species with advanced levels of sociality also benefit from clustering during cold periods. For instance, in the woodland dormouse ( Graphiurus murinus ), social clustering seems to be explained by mating behavior rather than by thermoregulatory benefits ( Madikiza and San, 2020 ), and in North American flying squirrels (genus Glaucomys ), interspecific social nesting appears to be driven by sociality ( Olson et al, 2018 ; Selonen et al, 2014 ). However, in birds, it has been documented that social thermoregulation combined with the use of insulative roosts and nests provides energy savings of over 50% compared with isolated birds outside nests ( Lubbe et al, 2018 ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Communal nesting is the optimal strategy for heat conservation in a social marsupial: lessons from biophysical models

Nespolo

Peña

Mejías

et al. 2022

Journal of Experimental Biology

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Endothermy, understood as the maintenance of continuous and high body temperatures (TB) due to the combination of metabolic heat production and an insulative cover, is severely challenged in small endotherms inhabiting cold environments. As a response, social clustering combined with nest use (=communal nesting) is a common strategy for heat conservation. To quantify the actual amount of energy that is saved by this strategy, we studied the social marsupial Dromiciops gliroides (monito del monte), an endemic species of the cold forests of southern South America. It is hypothesized that sociability in this marsupial was driven by cold conditions, but evidence supporting this hypothesis is unclear. Here we used taxidermic models ("mannequins") to experimentally test the energetic benefits of clustering combined with nest use. To do this, we fitted and compared cooling curves of solitary and grouped mannequins, within and outside of a nest, at the typical winter ambient temperatures of their habitat (5°C). We found that the strategy that minimized euthermic cost of maintenance, was the combination of nest use and clustering, thus supporting communal nesting as a social adaptation to cope with the cold. Considering the basal metabolic rate of monitos, our estimates suggest that the savings represents almost half of energy consumption per day (in resting conditions). This study shows how simple biophysical models could help to evaluate bioenergetic hypotheses for social behavior in cold-adapted endotherms.

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Patterns of nest box sharing in woodland dormice (Graphiurus murinus): Evidence for intra-sexual tolerance and communal nesting

Cited by 2 publications

References 34 publications

Huddling nest use are the optimal strategies for heat conservation in a social marsupial: lessons from biophysical models

Huddling nest use are the optimal strategies for heat conservation in a social marsupial: lessons from biophysical models

Communal nesting is the optimal strategy for heat conservation in a social marsupial: lessons from biophysical models

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