The commuting system of Serengeti spotted hyaenas: how a predator copes with migratory prey. I. Social organization

Hofer, Heribert; East, Marion L.

doi:10.1006/anbe.1993.1222

Cited by 144 publications

(164 citation statements)

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“…Whereas random dispersal between different types of habitat will produce gene flow that limits local adaptation (Lenormand 2002), the combination of reduced gene flow and local adaptation facilitated by natal habitat-based dispersal might lead eventually to speciation (Sorenson et al 2003). The results of our study support a critical role for foraging ecology (a factor potentially linked to natal habitat-based dispersal) in explaining genetic and phenotypic patterns in North American wolves that may be similar to patterns in raptors, hyenas and killer whales where resident and migratory prey populations are found (Hofer & East 1993;Hoelzel 1994Hoelzel ,1998Lank et al 2003).…”

Section: Prey-mediated Differentiation Of Tundra/taiga and Boreal Consupporting

confidence: 60%

Differentiation of tundra/taiga and boreal coniferous forest wolves: genetics, coat colour and association with migratory caribou

et al. 2007

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The grey wolf has one of the largest historic distributions of any terrestrial mammal and can disperse over great distances across imposing topographic barriers. As a result, geographical distance and physical obstacles to dispersal may not be consequential factors in the evolutionary divergence of wolf populations. However, recent studies suggest ecological features can constrain gene flow. We tested whether wolf-prey associations in uninterrupted tundra and forested regions of Canada explained differences in migratory behaviour, genetics, and coat colour of wolves. Satellite-telemetry data demonstrated that tundra wolves (n = 19) migrate annually with caribou (« = 19) from denning areas in the tundra to wintering areas south of the treeline. In contrast, nearby boreal coniferous forest wolves are territorial and associated year round with resident prey. Spatially explicit analysis of 14 autosomal microsatellite loci (n = 404 individuals) found two genetic clusters corresponding to tundra vs. boreal coniferous forest wolves. A sex bias in gene flow was inferred based on higher levels of mtDNA divergence (Fg^ = 0.282, 0.028 and 0.033; P < 0.0001 for mitochondrial, nuclear autosomal and Y-chromosome markers, respectively). Phenotypic differentiation was substantial as 93% of wolves from tundra populations exhibited light colouration whereas only 38% of boreal coniferous forest wolves did (y} = 64.52, P < 0.0001). The sharp boundary representing this discontinuity was the southern limit of the caribou migration. These findings show that substantial genetic and phenotypic differentiation in highly mobile mammals can be caused by prey-habitat specialization rather than distance or topographic barriers. The presence of a distinct wolf ecotype in the tundra of North America highlights the need to preserve migratory populations.

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Section: Prey-mediated Differentiation Of Tundra/taiga and Boreal Consupporting

confidence: 60%

Differentiation of tundra/taiga and boreal coniferous forest wolves: genetics, coat colour and association with migratory caribou

et al. 2007

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“…In hyena societies, high social rank ensures superior food access at kills; this forces many low-ranking animals to forage near territory edges or commute great distances in search of uncontested food [15,16]. Low-ranking female and male hyenas may thus incur high maintenance costs, similar to birds subjected to environmental challenges [3][4][5].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Socioecological variables predict telomere length in wild spotted hyenas

et al. 2015

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Telomeres are regarded as important biomarkers of ageing and serve as useful tools in revealing how stress acts at the cellular level. However, the effects of social and ecological factors on telomere length remain poorly understood, particularly in free-ranging mammals. Here, we investigated the influences of within-group dominance rank and group membership on telomere length in wild adult spotted hyenas (Crocuta crocuta). We found large effects of both factors; high-ranking hyenas exhibited significantly greater mean telomere length than did subordinate animals, and group membership significantly predicted mean telomere length within high-ranking females. We further inquired whether prey availability mediates the observed effect of group membership on telomere length, but this hypothesis was not supported. Interestingly, adult telomere length was not predicted by age. Our work shows for the first time, to the best of our knowledge, the effects of social rank on telomere length in a wild mammal and enhances our understanding of how social and ecological variables may contribute to organismal senescence.

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“…In the Serengeti National Park, we studied clans that held territories in the centre of the park (Hofer & East 1993a). This region is a transition zone between the dry and wet season ranges of the migratory herds of ungulates that pass through the study area biannually (Sinclair & Norton-Gri¤ths 1979) and are the chief source of prey for Serengeti hyenas (Hofer & East 1993a). The clans studied in the Ngorongoro Crater defended territories on the crater £oor.…”

Section: (A) Study Areas and Animalsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In this study we applied a noninvasive method that has been validated for spotted hyenas (Crocuta crocuta) by Goymann et al (1999) in order to measure the levels of corticosteroids in the faeces of two populations, namely Serengeti and Ngorongoro hyenas, which live at similar population densities of 0.82 and 0.79 adults and subadults per square kilometre, respectively (Hofer & East 1993a;Ho« ner 2001) and have the same social structure, but live in di¡erent environments.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…All female commuters are subject to this experience. Because the density of resident herbivores in the Ngorongoro Crater is more than one order of magnitude higher than in the Serengeti National Park (Hofer & East 1993a;Runyoro et al 1995), spotted hyenas belonging to clans on the crater £oor (Ngorongoro hyenas) live in small territories (26.6 km 2 ) (HÎner 2001) and usually feed on the herbivores inside their own clan territory. Thus, they live and feed in a well-known and predictable social environment in clans that, with a mean size of 21 adults and subadults, are smaller than in the Serengeti National Park (HÎner 2001).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Social, state-dependent and environmental modulation of faecal corticosteroid levels in free-ranging female spotted hyenas

Goymann

East

Wachter

et al. 2001

Proc. R. Soc. Lond. B

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130

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Little is known about to what extent the sensitivity of the hypothalamic^pituitary^adrenal (HPA) axis may be state dependent and vary in the same species between environments. Here we tested whether the faecal corticosteroid concentrations of matrilineal adult female spotted hyenas are in£uenced by social and reproductive status in adjacent ecosystems and whether they vary between periods with and without social stress. Females in the Serengeti National Park frequently become socially subordinate intruders in other hyena territories by undertaking long-distance foraging trips to migratory herds, whereas in the Ngorongoro Crater they usually forage inside their own small territories on resident prey. The faecal corticosteroid concentrations in Serengeti females were signi¢cantly higher than in Ngorongoro females. Energy expenditure by lactation is exceptionally high in spotted hyenas and this may be re£ected in their corticosteroid levels. The faecal corticosteroid levels in both populations were higher in lactating than in non-lactating females. During periods of social stability, faecal corticosteroid concentrations increased in non-lactating females but not in lactating females as social status declined. Lactating Serengeti females had signi¢cantly higher faecal corticosteroid concentrations during periods with acute severe social stress than during periods without, indicating that the HPA axis is sensitive to social stimuli even in lactating females. So far few studies have used non-invasive monitoring methods for assessing social stress in freeranging animals. This study demonstrates for the ¢rst time, to the authors' knowledge, that corticosteroid concentrations may di¡er between periods with and without social stress for a free-ranging female mammal and that the modulating e¡ect of social status may depend on reproductive status.

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The commuting system of Serengeti spotted hyaenas: how a predator copes with migratory prey. I. Social organization

Cited by 144 publications

References 0 publications

Differentiation of tundra/taiga and boreal coniferous forest wolves: genetics, coat colour and association with migratory caribou

Differentiation of tundra/taiga and boreal coniferous forest wolves: genetics, coat colour and association with migratory caribou

Socioecological variables predict telomere length in wild spotted hyenas

Social, state-dependent and environmental modulation of faecal corticosteroid levels in free-ranging female spotted hyenas

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