Pub Date : 2026-01-28DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2025.123449
Lucia Calbacho-Rosa , Franco Cargnelutti , Rocio Palen-Pietri , Eileen A. Hebets , Alfredo V. Peretti
Individuals can benefit from mating with different partners, with females gaining both direct and genetic benefits, and males increasing the number of offspring. Thus, the ability to identify and preferentially mate with new partners should increase individual reproductive success. Here, we aim to determine whether females and males of the marbled cellar spider, Holocnemus pluchei, a species with a promiscuous mating system and postcopulatory mate guarding, can recognize the individual with which they previously mated. We compared the likelihood of males engaging in courtship, the likelihood of females mating a second time and the likelihood of female mating interruptions with the same mates versus new mates. Considering that possible mate recognition may occur during copulation and/or during the postcopulatory guarding period, we conducted a full factorial experiment that considered both the presence or absence of a new male and the presence or absence of postcopulatory guarding. Our results support the hypothesis that both female and male H. pluchei recognize individual mates, as the identity of the second partner (same or new) significantly affected courtship, remating and copulation interruption. Our results indicate that mate recognition exists in both sexes and that postcopulatory guarding plays a crucial role for males in this process. Thus, these findings contribute to a broader understanding of the mechanisms of sexual selection and reproductive strategies in promiscuous species, highlighting the importance of individual recognition for optimizing reproductive success.
{"title":"Guarded encounters: how postcopulatory contact leads to mate recognition in spiders","authors":"Lucia Calbacho-Rosa , Franco Cargnelutti , Rocio Palen-Pietri , Eileen A. Hebets , Alfredo V. Peretti","doi":"10.1016/j.anbehav.2025.123449","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.anbehav.2025.123449","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Individuals can benefit from mating with different partners, with females gaining both direct and genetic benefits, and males increasing the number of offspring. Thus, the ability to identify and preferentially mate with new partners should increase individual reproductive success. Here, we aim to determine whether females and males of the marbled cellar spider, <em>Holocnemus pluchei</em>, a species with a promiscuous mating system and postcopulatory mate guarding, can recognize the individual with which they previously mated. We compared the likelihood of males engaging in courtship, the likelihood of females mating a second time and the likelihood of female mating interruptions with the same mates versus new mates. Considering that possible mate recognition may occur during copulation and/or during the postcopulatory guarding period, we conducted a full factorial experiment that considered both the presence or absence of a new male and the presence or absence of postcopulatory guarding. Our results support the hypothesis that both female and male <em>H. pluchei</em> recognize individual mates, as the identity of the second partner (same or new) significantly affected courtship, remating and copulation interruption. Our results indicate that mate recognition exists in both sexes and that postcopulatory guarding plays a crucial role for males in this process. Thus, these findings contribute to a broader understanding of the mechanisms of sexual selection and reproductive strategies in promiscuous species, highlighting the importance of individual recognition for optimizing reproductive success.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":50788,"journal":{"name":"Animal Behaviour","volume":"233 ","pages":"Article 123449"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2026-01-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146080993","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-27DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2025.123459
Mari Carmen López-Luengo , Peter Samaš , Francisco Ruiz-Raya , Manuel Soler , Marcel Honza
Obligate avian brood parasitism is a reproductive strategy in which a bird lays its egg in the nest of other bird (host), thereby forcing the host to raise the parasitic offspring as its own. This behaviour triggers a coevolutionary arms race, driving the evolution of host defences and parasite counter defences. Hosts can defend against brood parasitism at all stages of the breeding cycle, with frontline defences (those aimed at preventing a parasite from laying its egg) representing the earliest and critical stage of defence. Despite their importance, the main factors driving frontline (prelaying) antiparasitic behaviours remain unclear. Here, a meta-analytical approach was used to quantify the influence of various factors on host aggression, as an important and widespread frontline defence, towards adult brood parasites. In general, host aggression is assessed in field experiments by presenting brood parasite models near nests and observing the host response. Results show that host aggression towards brood parasites was influenced by the geographical overlap between host and parasite, as well as the distance of the experimental model from the host nest. In particular, aggression was higher in host populations living in sympatry with the parasite. In addition, hosts showed greater aggression towards parasite models placed closer to their nests in field experiments. Other factors, including differences in host–parasite body size, nest type (enclosed or open) and exposure time to the experimental model, did not affect host aggression. Our findings indicate that host aggression towards brood parasite models is primarily influenced by the sympatry–allopatry distribution between brood parasites and hosts. Furthermore, our study highlights the key methodological aspects that should be considered in future field experiments involving artificial brood parasite models.
{"title":"Factors affecting frontline host defences against avian brood parasitism: a meta-analysis","authors":"Mari Carmen López-Luengo , Peter Samaš , Francisco Ruiz-Raya , Manuel Soler , Marcel Honza","doi":"10.1016/j.anbehav.2025.123459","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.anbehav.2025.123459","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Obligate avian brood parasitism is a reproductive strategy in which a bird lays its egg in the nest of other bird (host), thereby forcing the host to raise the parasitic offspring as its own. This behaviour triggers a coevolutionary arms race, driving the evolution of host defences and parasite counter defences. Hosts can defend against brood parasitism at all stages of the breeding cycle, with frontline defences (those aimed at preventing a parasite from laying its egg) representing the earliest and critical stage of defence. Despite their importance, the main factors driving frontline (prelaying) antiparasitic behaviours remain unclear. Here, a meta-analytical approach was used to quantify the influence of various factors on host aggression, as an important and widespread frontline defence, towards adult brood parasites. In general, host aggression is assessed in field experiments by presenting brood parasite models near nests and observing the host response. Results show that host aggression towards brood parasites was influenced by the geographical overlap between host and parasite, as well as the distance of the experimental model from the host nest. In particular, aggression was higher in host populations living in sympatry with the parasite. In addition, hosts showed greater aggression towards parasite models placed closer to their nests in field experiments. Other factors, including differences in host–parasite body size, nest type (enclosed or open) and exposure time to the experimental model, did not affect host aggression. Our findings indicate that host aggression towards brood parasite models is primarily influenced by the sympatry–allopatry distribution between brood parasites and hosts. Furthermore, our study highlights the key methodological aspects that should be considered in future field experiments involving artificial brood parasite models.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":50788,"journal":{"name":"Animal Behaviour","volume":"233 ","pages":"Article 123459"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2026-01-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146080939","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-27DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2026.123464
Michał Glądalski , Ana Cláudia Norte , Maciej Bartos , Iwona Demeško , Adam Kaliński , Marcin Markowski , Joanna Skwarska , Jarosław Wawrzyniak , Piotr Zieliński , Maria Pietrala , Jerzy Bańbura
Birds are known to be able to actively shape their environment through their choices of habitat, behaviour or metabolic activities. Life-history theory suggests that parasites can generate selection pressures by affecting host health and, in natural habitats, Eurasian blue tits, Cyanistes caeruleus, are known for incorporating fresh herbal plants that contain volatile compounds into their nests to avoid parasites and their effects. In contrast, urban birds often come across resources not found in natural environments, including materials present in urban waste. There have been increasing reports that blue tits living in cities bring cigarette butts into their nests or build nests in cigarette ashtrays and butt bins. Tobacco, Nicotiana spp., is often cited as an efficient insect repellent and insecticide. In this study, we experimentally tested whether the inclusion of cigarette butts in nests (treatment 1), or replacing a natural nest with a sterilized, artificial, moss and cotton wool nest on the 5th and 10th day of the nestling period (treatment 2), affects components of nestling blue tit fitness: physiological condition, as indicated by blood levels of haemoglobin, glucose, haematocrit and body condition index (measured as the length of the wing of 13-day-old nestlings), in comparison with a control group. After the experimental procedures ended, we also collected all nest materials to extract, identify and count arthropod ectoparasites in the three treatment groups. Nestlings from broods supplemented with cigarette butts and nestlings in broods with artificial nests had significantly elevated haemoglobin and haematocrit, indicating improved physiological condition compared to the control group. The abundance of arthropods (ticks, mites, fleas and blowflies) in the nesting material varied depending on the experimental treatment, but, overall, ectoparasites were most numerous in natural nests, slightly less abundant in nests with cigarette butt addition and nearly absent in sterile nests. A reduction in blowfly larvae in nests with cigarette butts was observed compared with controls but this effect was only nearly significant.
{"title":"Urban blue tit nests and cigarette butts: accidental litter or adaptive behaviour?","authors":"Michał Glądalski , Ana Cláudia Norte , Maciej Bartos , Iwona Demeško , Adam Kaliński , Marcin Markowski , Joanna Skwarska , Jarosław Wawrzyniak , Piotr Zieliński , Maria Pietrala , Jerzy Bańbura","doi":"10.1016/j.anbehav.2026.123464","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.anbehav.2026.123464","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Birds are known to be able to actively shape their environment through their choices of habitat, behaviour or metabolic activities. Life-history theory suggests that parasites can generate selection pressures by affecting host health and, in natural habitats, Eurasian blue tits, <em>Cyanistes caeruleus</em>, are known for incorporating fresh herbal plants that contain volatile compounds into their nests to avoid parasites and their effects. In contrast, urban birds often come across resources not found in natural environments, including materials present in urban waste. There have been increasing reports that blue tits living in cities bring cigarette butts into their nests or build nests in cigarette ashtrays and butt bins. Tobacco, <em>Nicotiana</em> spp., is often cited as an efficient insect repellent and insecticide. In this study, we experimentally tested whether the inclusion of cigarette butts in nests (treatment 1), or replacing a natural nest with a sterilized, artificial, moss and cotton wool nest on the 5th and 10th day of the nestling period (treatment 2), affects components of nestling blue tit fitness: physiological condition, as indicated by blood levels of haemoglobin, glucose, haematocrit and body condition index (measured as the length of the wing of 13-day-old nestlings), in comparison with a control group. After the experimental procedures ended, we also collected all nest materials to extract, identify and count arthropod ectoparasites in the three treatment groups. Nestlings from broods supplemented with cigarette butts and nestlings in broods with artificial nests had significantly elevated haemoglobin and haematocrit, indicating improved physiological condition compared to the control group. The abundance of arthropods (ticks, mites, fleas and blowflies) in the nesting material varied depending on the experimental treatment, but, overall, ectoparasites were most numerous in natural nests, slightly less abundant in nests with cigarette butt addition and nearly absent in sterile nests. A reduction in blowfly larvae in nests with cigarette butts was observed compared with controls but this effect was only nearly significant.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":50788,"journal":{"name":"Animal Behaviour","volume":"233 ","pages":"Article 123464"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2026-01-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146080927","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-27DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2025.123447
Júlia Vasconcelos-Araújo , Christini B. Caselli , Paul A. Garber , Júlio César Bicca-Marques , Filipa Abreu , Antonio Souto , Nicola Schiel
In the absence of conflict management, competition for limited resources can lead to heightened aggression and can negatively affect fitness. However, acoustic signals may serve as a management mechanism to deescalate such events. In this study, the functional significance of submissive cries and chatters as conflict escalation-avoidance behaviours in four wild groups of cooperatively breeding common marmosets, Callithrix jacchus, was investigated. By experimentally manipulating food availability and distribution, the four groups were exposed to contrasting competitive scenarios. Both calls were uttered unidirectionally between marmoset dyads to indicate dominance (chatter) or subordination (submissive cry). They were frequent during more (71%) and less (29%) competitive scenarios and were associated with reduced physical aggression. Despite increased aggression in the more competitive trials when only one out of four experimental feeding sites contained a food reward, high-intensity, physical aggression remained infrequent. Although chattering individuals had more access to food, this was not observed when the individuals uttered submissive cries. Under limited food availability, a group’s single breeding female chattered more often and used submissive cries less often than expected, while nonbreeding adult females showed the opposite pattern. Males uttered both call types less often than expected given their co-feeding opportunities. These findings are consistent with the social and breeding systems of common marmosets, in which female reproductive competition is high, leading females to vocalize more frequently during feeding-related interactions, while males invest heavily in cooperative infant care and vocalize less frequently. Results indicate that marmoset vocal signals can mediate foraging/feeding-related aggression effectively under limited resources, thereby supporting their role as escalation-avoidance behaviours in managing social conflict. By reducing the frequency of aggressive contests over food, these signals lower the risk of injury and destabilization of marmoset social relationships.
{"title":"Talking more and fighting less? Conflict management through acoustic signals in a cooperatively breeding species","authors":"Júlia Vasconcelos-Araújo , Christini B. Caselli , Paul A. Garber , Júlio César Bicca-Marques , Filipa Abreu , Antonio Souto , Nicola Schiel","doi":"10.1016/j.anbehav.2025.123447","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.anbehav.2025.123447","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>In the absence of conflict management, competition for limited resources can lead to heightened aggression and can negatively affect fitness. However, acoustic signals may serve as a management mechanism to deescalate such events. In this study, the functional significance of submissive cries and chatters as conflict escalation-avoidance behaviours in four wild groups of cooperatively breeding common marmosets, <em>Callithrix jacchus</em>, was investigated. By experimentally manipulating food availability and distribution, the four groups were exposed to contrasting competitive scenarios. Both calls were uttered unidirectionally between marmoset dyads to indicate dominance (chatter) or subordination (submissive cry). They were frequent during more (71%) and less (29%) competitive scenarios and were associated with reduced physical aggression. Despite increased aggression in the more competitive trials when only one out of four experimental feeding sites contained a food reward, high-intensity, physical aggression remained infrequent. Although chattering individuals had more access to food, this was not observed when the individuals uttered submissive cries. Under limited food availability, a group’s single breeding female chattered more often and used submissive cries less often than expected, while nonbreeding adult females showed the opposite pattern. Males uttered both call types less often than expected given their co-feeding opportunities. These findings are consistent with the social and breeding systems of common marmosets, in which female reproductive competition is high, leading females to vocalize more frequently during feeding-related interactions, while males invest heavily in cooperative infant care and vocalize less frequently. Results indicate that marmoset vocal signals can mediate foraging/feeding-related aggression effectively under limited resources, thereby supporting their role as escalation-avoidance behaviours in managing social conflict. By reducing the frequency of aggressive contests over food, these signals lower the risk of injury and destabilization of marmoset social relationships.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":50788,"journal":{"name":"Animal Behaviour","volume":"233 ","pages":"Article 123447"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2026-01-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146080940","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-24DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2026.123465
Zhenxu Liu, Qihui Cao, Manman Lu, Jinhong Luo
Many echolocating bats can successfully navigate and pursue prey under severe acoustic interference; that is, they possess a high noise resistance ability. So far, most research has employed wideband noise of tens of kilohertz bandwidth. In the present study, we studied the sensitivity of the echolocation behaviour in flying Pratt’s roundleaf bats, Hipposideros pratti, to various wideband and 1 kHz narrowband noise. We provide three lines of evidence that the noise resistance of echolocating bats stems from an enhanced vocal flexibility for coping with interference, not from a reduced susceptibility to it. We first report that Pratt’s roundleaf bats modified several acoustic parameters of the echolocation calls in both spectrally overlapping and low-frequency, nonoverlapping noise conditions. Second, unexpectedly, bats' echolocation behaviour was sensitive to narrowband noise stimuli of 1 kHz bandwidth. Third, we observed that the covariation of different call parameters was also sensitive to noise interference, with wideband noise increasing the correlation strength and narrowband noise decreasing the correlation strength. These results further emphasize the echolocating bat as an important mammalian model for uncovering adaptive strategies for coping with noise interference.
{"title":"Echolocation behaviour is highly sensitive to noise interference in flying Pratt’s roundleaf bats","authors":"Zhenxu Liu, Qihui Cao, Manman Lu, Jinhong Luo","doi":"10.1016/j.anbehav.2026.123465","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.anbehav.2026.123465","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Many echolocating bats can successfully navigate and pursue prey under severe acoustic interference; that is, they possess a high noise resistance ability. So far, most research has employed wideband noise of tens of kilohertz bandwidth. In the present study, we studied the sensitivity of the echolocation behaviour in flying Pratt’s roundleaf bats, <em>Hipposideros pratti</em>, to various wideband and 1 kHz narrowband noise. We provide three lines of evidence that the noise resistance of echolocating bats stems from an enhanced vocal flexibility for coping with interference, not from a reduced susceptibility to it. We first report that Pratt’s roundleaf bats modified several acoustic parameters of the echolocation calls in both spectrally overlapping and low-frequency, nonoverlapping noise conditions. Second, unexpectedly, bats' echolocation behaviour was sensitive to narrowband noise stimuli of 1 kHz bandwidth. Third, we observed that the covariation of different call parameters was also sensitive to noise interference, with wideband noise increasing the correlation strength and narrowband noise decreasing the correlation strength. These results further emphasize the echolocating bat as an important mammalian model for uncovering adaptive strategies for coping with noise interference.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":50788,"journal":{"name":"Animal Behaviour","volume":"233 ","pages":"Article 123465"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2026-01-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146039475","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-21DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2025.123410
Hannah Salomons , Morgan Ferrans , Candler Cusato , Kara Moore , Vanessa Woods , Emily Bray , Brenda Kennedy , Theadora Block , Laura Douglas , Ashton Roberts , Margaret Gruen , Brian Hare
Cognitive battery testing suggests that adult domestic dogs, Canis familiaris, have different types of cognitive abilities that vary independently. In the current study, we examined whether these cognitive skills develop and emerge independently in puppies by testing them over a crucial period of development. Service dog puppies (N = 113) were raised using two different socialization strategies and were either tested longitudinally (N = 91) or at a single time point (N = 22). Subjects tested longitudinally participated in the battery every 2 weeks, from approximately 8–20 weeks of age, during and just beyond their final period of rapid brain growth. Control puppies only participated in the test battery once, which allowed us to evaluate the impact of repeated testing. In support of the multiple intelligences hypothesis (MIH), cognitive skills emerged at different points across development, not simultaneously. Maturational patterns also varied between cognitive skills, with puppies showing adult-like performance on some tasks only weeks after a skill emerged, while never achieving adult performance in others. Differences in rearing strategy did not lead to differences in developmental patterns while, in some cases, repeated testing did. Overall, our findings provide strong support for the MIH by demonstrating differentiated development across the cognitive abilities tested.
{"title":"Longitudinal evidence for the emergence of multiple intelligences in assistance dog puppies","authors":"Hannah Salomons , Morgan Ferrans , Candler Cusato , Kara Moore , Vanessa Woods , Emily Bray , Brenda Kennedy , Theadora Block , Laura Douglas , Ashton Roberts , Margaret Gruen , Brian Hare","doi":"10.1016/j.anbehav.2025.123410","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.anbehav.2025.123410","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Cognitive battery testing suggests that adult domestic dogs, <em>Canis familiaris</em>, have different types of cognitive abilities that vary independently. In the current study, we examined whether these cognitive skills develop and emerge independently in puppies by testing them over a crucial period of development. Service dog puppies (<em>N</em> = 113) were raised using two different socialization strategies and were either tested longitudinally (<em>N</em> = 91) or at a single time point (<em>N</em> = 22). Subjects tested longitudinally participated in the battery every 2 weeks, from approximately 8–20 weeks of age, during and just beyond their final period of rapid brain growth. Control puppies only participated in the test battery once, which allowed us to evaluate the impact of repeated testing. In support of the multiple intelligences hypothesis (MIH), cognitive skills emerged at different points across development, not simultaneously. Maturational patterns also varied between cognitive skills, with puppies showing adult-like performance on some tasks only weeks after a skill emerged, while never achieving adult performance in others. Differences in rearing strategy did not lead to differences in developmental patterns while, in some cases, repeated testing did. Overall, our findings provide strong support for the MIH by demonstrating differentiated development across the cognitive abilities tested.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":50788,"journal":{"name":"Animal Behaviour","volume":"232 ","pages":"Article 123410"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2026-01-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146023669","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-10DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2025.123444
Anne Pandraud , Haemish Melville , Kerry Slater , Craig Sholto-Douglas , Willem Maartin Strauss
Animal space use is influenced by their intrinsic characteristics (e.g. age, sex) and their extrinsic environment (e.g. social environment and resource accessibility). Understanding the links between social behaviour and movement ecology may be crucial in isolating the factors impacting a population’s space use. Black rhinoceroses, Diceros bicornis, are territorial animals and are now largely confined to fenced protected areas because of increased security concerns as a consequence of poaching. In this study, we investigated the spatiotemporal interactions within an established black rhinoceros population and the intrinsic (age, sex, maternal state and dominance) and extrinsic factors (season, vegetation type, bush cover and intraspecific interactions) influencing these interactions. We used location data from 21 black rhinoceroses fitted with Global Positioning System collars to explore the spatial distribution and the spatiotemporal interactions between and within sexes. Our results revealed that males shared their seasonal ranges with four females, while the seasonal ranges of females overlapped with that of at least one male. Females showed strong spatial fidelity to males’ ranges; however, they remained at a mean distance of 3.1 km from the males with no influence of the age of males, females or calves on this proximity. The ranges of males overlapped in relation to both the overall and core ranges, with the older males having the largest ranges and the greatest access to females. Minta’s analysis revealed that only older males were attracted to the overlap zone with the ranges of the younger males. However, access to forage did not differ between younger and older males. Finally, we found that males regularly transgress the borders of their own and neighbouring males’ ranges. Our findings highlight the complex link between the spatiotemporal distribution and the social interactions among black rhinoceroses.
{"title":"Intrinsic and extrinsic factors affecting the spatiotemporal interactions within a black rhinoceros population","authors":"Anne Pandraud , Haemish Melville , Kerry Slater , Craig Sholto-Douglas , Willem Maartin Strauss","doi":"10.1016/j.anbehav.2025.123444","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.anbehav.2025.123444","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Animal space use is influenced by their intrinsic characteristics (e.g. age, sex) and their extrinsic environment (e.g. social environment and resource accessibility). Understanding the links between social behaviour and movement ecology may be crucial in isolating the factors impacting a population’s space use. Black rhinoceroses, <em>Diceros bicornis</em>, are territorial animals and are now largely confined to fenced protected areas because of increased security concerns as a consequence of poaching. In this study, we investigated the spatiotemporal interactions within an established black rhinoceros population and the intrinsic (age, sex, maternal state and dominance) and extrinsic factors (season, vegetation type, bush cover and intraspecific interactions) influencing these interactions. We used location data from 21 black rhinoceroses fitted with Global Positioning System collars to explore the spatial distribution and the spatiotemporal interactions between and within sexes. Our results revealed that males shared their seasonal ranges with four females, while the seasonal ranges of females overlapped with that of at least one male. Females showed strong spatial fidelity to males’ ranges; however, they remained at a mean distance of 3.1 km from the males with no influence of the age of males, females or calves on this proximity. The ranges of males overlapped in relation to both the overall and core ranges, with the older males having the largest ranges and the greatest access to females. Minta’s analysis revealed that only older males were attracted to the overlap zone with the ranges of the younger males. However, access to forage did not differ between younger and older males. Finally, we found that males regularly transgress the borders of their own and neighbouring males’ ranges. Our findings highlight the complex link between the spatiotemporal distribution and the social interactions among black rhinoceroses.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":50788,"journal":{"name":"Animal Behaviour","volume":"232 ","pages":"Article 123444"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2026-01-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145978006","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-09DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2025.123445
Oliwia Sęk, Bogna Malinowska, Leszek Rychlik
This study aimed to examine the potential influence of toxic alkaloids produced by endophytic fungi, Epichloë typhina, on food selectivity of rodents from different trophic groups: the granivorous striped field mouse, Apodemus agrarius, the herbivorous common vole, Microtus arvalis, and the omnivorous house mouse Mus musculus. The fungal mycelium of endophytes can infest the seeds and vegetative parts of the plant to varying extents. Consequently, the alkaloids may be contained in both, causing toxicosis of differing intensity among herbivores from different trophic groups. Hypothesizing that these rodents avoid feeding on different parts of fungus-infected grasses to varying degrees, the following predictions were verified: (1) striped field mice prefer eating seeds over the green parts of plants, whereas common voles prefer eating the green parts over seeds; (2) striped field mice show a stronger preference for uninfected food when selecting among seeds than when choosing among green plant materials; (3) common voles exhibit greater preference for uninfected food when consuming the leaves than when consuming the seeds; (4) house mice show less differentiated responses. A total of 69 individuals from the three aforementioned species were tested in cafeteria tests. During 2 h trials, the animals could freely choose between seeds infected and uninfected with an endophytic fungus and the green parts of weeping alkaligrass, Puccinellia distans. Analyses revealed significant differences in food preferences and avoidance among the tested rodents, consistent with the above-mentioned predictions. Studying these interactions in wild rodent models provides valuable insights for basic research (understanding mechanisms and dependencies). Moreover, the findings of this study contribute to our knowledge about the mechanism by which fungal alkaloids in different food sources influences small wild mammals from various trophic groups, potentially affecting their foraging behaviour and dietary choices at the individual level.
{"title":"Rodents versus endophytic fungi: do mice and voles recognize infected food in cafeteria tests?","authors":"Oliwia Sęk, Bogna Malinowska, Leszek Rychlik","doi":"10.1016/j.anbehav.2025.123445","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.anbehav.2025.123445","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study aimed to examine the potential influence of toxic alkaloids produced by endophytic fungi, <em>Epichloë typhina</em>, on food selectivity of rodents from different trophic groups: the granivorous striped field mouse, <em>Apodemus agrarius</em>, the herbivorous common vole, <em>Microtus arvalis</em>, and the omnivorous house mouse <em>Mus musculus</em>. The fungal mycelium of endophytes can infest the seeds and vegetative parts of the plant to varying extents. Consequently, the alkaloids may be contained in both, causing toxicosis of differing intensity among herbivores from different trophic groups. Hypothesizing that these rodents avoid feeding on different parts of fungus-infected grasses to varying degrees, the following predictions were verified: (1) striped field mice prefer eating seeds over the green parts of plants, whereas common voles prefer eating the green parts over seeds; (2) striped field mice show a stronger preference for uninfected food when selecting among seeds than when choosing among green plant materials; (3) common voles exhibit greater preference for uninfected food when consuming the leaves than when consuming the seeds; (4) house mice show less differentiated responses. A total of 69 individuals from the three aforementioned species were tested in cafeteria tests. During 2 h trials, the animals could freely choose between seeds infected and uninfected with an endophytic fungus and the green parts of weeping alkaligrass, <em>Puccinellia distans</em>. Analyses revealed significant differences in food preferences and avoidance among the tested rodents, consistent with the above-mentioned predictions. Studying these interactions in wild rodent models provides valuable insights for basic research (understanding mechanisms and dependencies). Moreover, the findings of this study contribute to our knowledge about the mechanism by which fungal alkaloids in different food sources influences small wild mammals from various trophic groups, potentially affecting their foraging behaviour and dietary choices at the individual level.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":50788,"journal":{"name":"Animal Behaviour","volume":"232 ","pages":"Article 123445"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2026-01-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145927465","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-01DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2025.123425
Dara S. Jonkoski , Laura E.L.C. Douglas , Daniel J. Horschler , Alyssa M. Klensin , Brenda S. Kennedy , Evan L. MacLean , Emily E. Bray
The ability to form joint intentions (i.e. engaging in activities that reflect a shared commitment between at least two individuals to reach a common goal) is well documented in humans. Recent research highlights the possibility that other species, such as bonobos, Pan paniscus, and domestic dogs, Canis familiaris, may also possess components of joint intentionality. Additionally, comparative developmental studies suggest that humans, but not bonobos, possess mechanisms required to form joint intentions from infancy. In the current study, we tested whether behavioural markers of shared intentionality observed in adult dogs are also present early in dog ontogeny. Answering this question will not only help determine which underlying mechanisms may be required for joint intentionality, but also whether humans are uniquely predisposed relative to other species. One way researchers have tested for behavioural indicators of joint intentionality is to assess whether a subject attempts to re-engage a recalcitrant partner after a joint activity is interrupted. Here, we tested a sample of ∼8-week-old retriever puppies (N = 80) using the re-engagement task protocol designed by Horschler et al. (2022, Animal Behaviour, 183, 159–168). Contrary to findings from adult dogs, puppies did not preferentially re-engage their previous play partners in a triadic activity following an interruption. Puppies did display a high frequency and variety of social behaviours towards both experimenters in the task, but not in a way that was obviously relevant to the interrupted triadic activity. These findings suggest that although adult dogs possess a key marker of joint intentionality, puppies may not. The difference in ontogenetic onset of this skill between humans and other species may be key to uniquely human sociality. The discrepancy in the ability to form joint intentions may therefore have motivational and/or cognitive–developmental underpinnings that are lacking in young puppies and should be explored further.
{"title":"Indiscriminate sociality: puppies do not preferentially re-engage a human partner after joint social play is interrupted","authors":"Dara S. Jonkoski , Laura E.L.C. Douglas , Daniel J. Horschler , Alyssa M. Klensin , Brenda S. Kennedy , Evan L. MacLean , Emily E. Bray","doi":"10.1016/j.anbehav.2025.123425","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.anbehav.2025.123425","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The ability to form joint intentions (i.e. engaging in activities that reflect a shared commitment between at least two individuals to reach a common goal) is well documented in humans. Recent research highlights the possibility that other species, such as bonobos, <em>Pan paniscus</em>, and domestic dogs, <em>Canis familiaris</em>, may also possess components of joint intentionality. Additionally, comparative developmental studies suggest that humans, but not bonobos, possess mechanisms required to form joint intentions from infancy. In the current study, we tested whether behavioural markers of shared intentionality observed in adult dogs are also present early in dog ontogeny. Answering this question will not only help determine which underlying mechanisms may be required for joint intentionality, but also whether humans are uniquely predisposed relative to other species. One way researchers have tested for behavioural indicators of joint intentionality is to assess whether a subject attempts to re-engage a recalcitrant partner after a joint activity is interrupted. Here, we tested a sample of ∼8-week-old retriever puppies (<em>N</em> = 80) using the re-engagement task protocol designed by Horschler et al. (2022, <em>Animal Behaviour, 183</em>, 159–168). Contrary to findings from adult dogs, puppies did not preferentially re-engage their previous play partners in a triadic activity following an interruption. Puppies did display a high frequency and variety of social behaviours towards both experimenters in the task, but not in a way that was obviously relevant to the interrupted triadic activity. These findings suggest that although adult dogs possess a key marker of joint intentionality, puppies may not. The difference in ontogenetic onset of this skill between humans and other species may be key to uniquely human sociality. The discrepancy in the ability to form joint intentions may therefore have motivational and/or cognitive–developmental underpinnings that are lacking in young puppies and should be explored further.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":50788,"journal":{"name":"Animal Behaviour","volume":"231 ","pages":"Article 123425"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145883401","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
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