Social structure in a family group of Guanaco (Lama guanicoe, Ungulate): Is female hierarchy based on ‘prior attributes’ or ‘social dynamics’?

Correa, Loreto; Zapata, Beatriz; Samaniego, Horacio; Soto‐Gamboa, Mauricio

doi:10.1016/j.beproc.2013.05.003

Cited by 16 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 55 publications

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“…The mean ranks of juvenile males tended to be higher than that of juvenile females, probably due to the differences in growing patterns and resulting sexual dimorphism [ 33 ]. Given the sample size of our studied group, we suggest that sex and/or size might play a role in achievement of the dominance rank, as in Correa et al [ 72 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 67%

“…The linearity of hierarchies was stronger in larger giraffe herds (8–14 individuals) than in smaller ones (6–8 individuals), in contrary to the findings of Favre et al [ 15 ], where linearity decreased with the increasing size of a herd. Linear hierarchies have been often reported in female-bonded ungulate groups [ 58 , 72 ], which are formed by closely tied and related females. The linearity of the dominance hierarchy in the giraffe supports the findings of recent studies showing that the relationships among female giraffes are stronger than previously thought [ 47 , 51 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The First Description of Dominance Hierarchy in Captive Giraffe: Not Loose and Egalitarian, but Clear and Linear

2015

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Wild giraffes live in extensive groups in the fission fusion system, maintaining long social distances and loose social bonds. Within these groups, resources are widely distributed, agonistic encounters are scarce and the dominance hierarchy was reported in males only, while never deeply analysed. In captivity, the possibility to maintain inter-individual distances is limited and part of the resources is not evenly distributed. Consequently, we suggest that agonistic encounters should be more frequent, leading to the establishment of the dominance hierarchy. Based on the differences in resource-holding potential, we suggested that the rank of an individual would be affected by age and sex. Based on hypotheses of prior ownership, we tested whether rank was positively affected by the time spent in a herd and whether it was stable in adult females, which were present long-term in the same herd. We originally monitored four herds of Rothschild giraffes (Giraffa camelopardalis rothschildii) in Dvůr Králové zoo (n = 8), Liberec zoo (n = 6), and two herds in Prague zoo: Prague 1 (n = 8) and Prague 2 (n = 9). The Prague 1 and Prague 2 herds were then combined and the resulting fifth herd was observed over three consecutive years (2009, 2010, and 2011) (n = 14, 13, and 14, respectively). We revealed a significantly linear hierarchy in Dvůr Králové, Prague 2 and in the combined herd in Prague. Rank was significantly affected by age in all herds; older individuals dominated the younger ones. In females, rank was positively affected by the time spent in the herd and adult females in Prague maintained their rank during three consecutive years. This study represents the first analysis of the dominance hierarchy in the captive giraffe, and discusses the behavioural flexibility of the social structure in response to monopolisable resources in a captive environment.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 67%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The First Description of Dominance Hierarchy in Captive Giraffe: Not Loose and Egalitarian, but Clear and Linear

2015

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“…Favreau et al (2009) summarized that the activity of social or family partners can affect an individual's activity rhythm. Circadian rhythm synchronization can be found in mother‐offspring relationship in herbivores (Green, 1992; Pluhacek et al, 2010; Ralls et al, 1986), in social species living in a constraining environment (Bashaw, 2011), in hierarchical relationships (Correa et al, 2013; Horova et al, 2015; Thompson, 1993) as well as between competitors or sexual partners (Bercovitch et al, 2006; Curren et al, 2015; Favreau et al, 2009). Even if giraffe in the wild live in so called fission‐fusion societies, they exhibit structured social patterns.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Biological and environmental factors as sources of variation in nocturnal behavior of giraffe

2021

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Upon a drastic decline of the giraffe population in the wild, conservation efforts and therefore the role of zoos have become more important than ever. With their unique opportunities, zoos provide excellent conditions to study animal behavior, expanding the knowledge about the giraffe's behavior repertoire and their ability to adapt. This study therefore examined the nocturnal behavior of 63 giraffe living in 13 different EAZA zoos across Germany and the Netherlands. Giraffe were observed and videos recorded via infrared sensitive cameras during the winter seasons 2015–2018. The observation period spanned nightly from 17:00 to 7:00. Thus, 198 nights, with a total of 2772 h were recorded and analyzed. Linear mixed models were then used to assess potential biological and environmental factors influencing behavior during the dark phase. Results show that individual variables such as age, subspecies and motherhood determined nocturnal activity and sleep behavior most. Among the variables studied, husbandry conditions and environmental factors complying with EAZA standards had no influence on the giraffe's nocturnal behavior. By combining nocturnal activity analyses and an assessment of potential influencing factors, our findings present a holistic approach to a better understanding of captive giraffe behavior and allow for management implications.

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“…Groups across a broad range of taxa are structured by dominance rank [ 9 ] despite large variation in cognitive skills. Dominance hierarchies are found in primates [ 10 , 11 ], social carnivores [ 12 , 13 ], ungulates [ 14 , 15 ], birds [ 16 – 19 ], fish [ 20 ], and even crustaceans [ 21 , 22 ] and insects [ 23 ]. These group-level social structures form and stabilize on the basis of perceptions and actions necessarily made at the individual level [ 24 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Social Feedback and the Emergence of Rank in Animal Society

Hobson

DeDeo

2015

PLoS Comput Biol

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Dominance hierarchies are group-level properties that emerge from the aggression of individuals. Although individuals can gain critical benefits from their position in a hierarchy, we do not understand how real-world hierarchies form. Nor do we understand what signals and decision-rules individuals use to construct and maintain hierarchies in the absence of simple cues such as size or spatial location. A study of conflict in two groups of captive monk parakeets (Myiopsitta monachus) found that a transition to large-scale order in aggression occurred in newly-formed groups after one week, with individuals thereafter preferring to direct aggression more frequently against those nearby in rank. We consider two cognitive mechanisms underlying the emergence of this order: inference based on overall levels of aggression, or on subsets of the aggression network. Both mechanisms were predictive of individual decisions to aggress, but observed patterns were better explained by rank inference through subsets of the aggression network. Based on these results, we present a new theory, of a feedback loop between knowledge of rank and consequent behavior. This loop explains the transition to strategic aggression and the formation and persistence of dominance hierarchies in groups capable of both social memory and inference.

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Social structure in a family group of Guanaco (Lama guanicoe, Ungulate): Is female hierarchy based on ‘prior attributes’ or ‘social dynamics’?

Cited by 16 publications

References 55 publications

The First Description of Dominance Hierarchy in Captive Giraffe: Not Loose and Egalitarian, but Clear and Linear

The First Description of Dominance Hierarchy in Captive Giraffe: Not Loose and Egalitarian, but Clear and Linear

Biological and environmental factors as sources of variation in nocturnal behavior of giraffe

Social Feedback and the Emergence of Rank in Animal Society

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