‘Winner effect’ without winning: Unresolved social conflicts increase the probability of winning a subsequent contest in a cichlid fish

Dijkstra, Peter D.; Schaafsma, Sara M.; Hofmann, Hans A.; Groothuis, Ton G. G.

doi:10.1016/j.physbeh.2011.08.029

Cited by 55 publications

(27 citation statements)

References 34 publications

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“…Conversely, in other vertebrate species (e.g. the East African cichlid fish), it has been shown that fighting experience itself (coupled with an androgen response) increases the subsequent likelihood of winning, even in the absence of a prior winning experience 60,61 . We demonstrated that experiencing two consecutive defeats without physical contact induced a similar effect in olive fruit flies males (losers without fighting), who achieved higher fighting success in subsequent combat, at a level comparable to males that had experienced two consecutive defeats via physical combat (losers with fighting).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Contest experience enhances aggressive behaviour in a fly: when losers learn to win

Benelli

Desneux

Romano

et al. 2015

Sci Rep

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In several animal species, aggressive experience influences the characteristics and outcomes of subsequent conflicts, such that winners are more likely to win again (the winner effect) and losers more likely to lose again (the loser effect). We tested the olive fruit fly, Bactrocera oleae (Diptera: Tephritidae), as a model system to evaluate the role of the winner and loser effects in male-male territorial contests. Further, we conducted experiments to test if winning and losing probabilities are affected only by the outcome of the previous contests, or whether the fighting experience itself is sufficient to induce an effect. Both winners and losers of two consecutive encounters displayed higher intensity of aggression and fought longer in subsequent contests. In both cases, they achieved higher fighting success than naïve males. The enhanced fighting performance of both winners and losers was stimulated by merely experiencing a contest, not necessarily by the relative outcome of previous fights. Overall, this study highlights the fact that previous victories and defeats both enhance aggressive behaviour in olive fruit flies, allowing them to achieve higher fighting success in subsequent contests against inexperienced males.A ggressive behaviour is widespread throughout the animal kingdom 1,2 . Aggression is a highly flexible behaviour affected by a large number of factors, and is important to ensure survival and reproduction in many species 3 . The evolution of aggression is shaped by a trade-off between the resultant benefits (i.e., securing limited resources) vs. costs (i.e., risk of injury; loss of time and energy), optimising fitness outcomes 4,5 . Aggressive behaviour can be severe between individuals of the same species, as they compete for the same food, territory, and access to mates 6 . Game theory predicts that Evolutionarily Stable Strategies for conflicts between conspecifics may involve stereotyped contests characterized by the ritualised exchange of agonistic signals 7 , which are thought to convey increasingly accurate information for assessing the contenders' chances of winning [8][9][10][11] . Probability of winning can depend on physical disparities (e.g. size, strength, weaponry) 12-15 as well as on aggressive motivation 16 . The latter is a product of several factors, including the presence of resources 17-21 , social upbringing 22 , physical exertion 23 and experience in previous fights [24][25][26] . Learning in the context of aggressive behaviour is widely recognised in animals 4,27,28 , and it has been shown that previous contest experience affects the characteristics and outcomes of contests in many species 4,26 . It is generally acknowledged that behavioural changes during combat that relate to prior experience fall into two general categories. Losing experiences tend to decrease willingness to engage in a contest (i.e. the loser effect), while winning experiences tend to increase willingness to escalate a contest (i.e. the winner effect) 4 . In other words, individuals experiencing a ...

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Contest experience enhances aggressive behaviour in a fly: when losers learn to win

Benelli

Desneux

Romano

et al. 2015

Sci Rep

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“…From this perspective, mirrors have been used as means to stimulate social interactions in many vertebrate species, including fishes. [33][34][35][36][37][38][39] This experimental design is effective because of the strength of visual sensory inputs to stimulate exploratory and social behaviors. Specifically, mirrors allow a test subject to use vision alone to guide its use of space and spatial preferences inside a closed arena within a short time frame.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Experimental Design Affects Social Behavior Outcomes in Adult Zebrafish Developmentally Exposed to Lead

Weber

Ghorai

2013

Zebrafish

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Lead (Pb(2+)) affects neuronal and endocrine systems that influence social interactions. By providing potential hiding locations, spatial heterogeneity may affect Pb(2+)-induced behavioral outcomes. Therefore, a test chamber was designed into which a refuge could be inserted. The refuge allowed test subjects to escape from the mirror image that stimulated agonistic interactions. Behaviors with a mirror were compared with baseline activity patterns without a mirror. Adult (12-month old) male and female zebrafish, exposed to Pb(2+) (0-10 μM) as embryos (2-24 hours post fertilization), were tested individually for 5 min in each chamber design within 2 h of feeding. Behaviors were evaluated for % time in mirror zone, distance traveled (=activity level), and attacks on the mirror image. When there was no refuge, significant concentration-dependent increases occurred in male % time in mirror zone, activity level, and number of attacks. Increases in these variables were less pronounced in females. When there was a refuge, there were significant differences for males only in activity level and attacks at the higher developmental exposure concentrations; % time in mirror zone followed a similar pattern and level as without refuge. Females displayed Pb(2+)-induced behavioral changes only for attacks on mirror. Since the presence of refuges that is, environmental enrichment, reduced Pb(2+)-induced agonistic behavior in both sexes, experimental spatial design can be considered an important factor when interpreting behavioral outcomes.

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“…Other studies have shown that various types of experience, even subordination and draws, can predict future contest success or the ability to secure resources (Stamps & Krishnan ; Kim & Zuk ; Dijkstra et al. ). Still others demonstrate that the magnitude or persistence of winner and loser effects is influenced by the dynamics of the contest in which experience was obtained (e.g., escalated vs. non‐escalated; Beaugrand & Goulet ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Assessment Strategies and the Effects of Fighting Experience on Future Contest Performance in the Green Anole (Anolis carolinensis)

et al. 2012

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Social experiences can be useful sources of information for animals charged with making fitness‐related decisions. Fighting experience can alter an animal's perception of its fighting ability possibly leading to changes in future contest decisions, which may increase/decrease their probability of winning future contests. Winner and loser effects have been revealed in a wide array of animals, but studies using reptilian models are rare. This study investigated the impact of fighting experience on future contest performance and outcome in the green anole lizard and investigated the assessment strategies used by anoles during contests of different intensities. To determine whether the green anole expresses winner or loser effects, focal animals engaged in a primary contest with a smaller (larger) opponent to gain a winning (losing) experience; opponent size asymmetries were a significant predictor of contest outcome. Focal individuals were isolated for 2 d before being given a secondary contest with a size‐matched, naïve opponent. We found no evidence of winner or loser effects 2 d following a previous contest. Although previous contest outcome did not dictate future contest success, dynamics of the previous contest did. Highly aggressive primary contest losers won a significant proportion of the secondary contests, while less aggressive losers were more apt to lose the secondary contest. Secondary contest success of prior winners was not influenced by earlier contest performance. Further analyses of contest dynamics reveal that individuals may use different assessment strategies depending on the intensity of the contest. Our results demonstrate that future contest success may be driven more by individual performance in a prior contest and less by prior contest outcome.

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‘Winner effect’ without winning: Unresolved social conflicts increase the probability of winning a subsequent contest in a cichlid fish

Cited by 55 publications

References 34 publications

Contest experience enhances aggressive behaviour in a fly: when losers learn to win

Contest experience enhances aggressive behaviour in a fly: when losers learn to win

Experimental Design Affects Social Behavior Outcomes in Adult Zebrafish Developmentally Exposed to Lead

Assessment Strategies and the Effects of Fighting Experience on Future Contest Performance in the Green Anole (Anolis carolinensis)

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