10.5061/DRYAD.70RXWDBXZ
Harrison, Natasha
0000-0001-5779-0187
University of Zurich
Maag, Nino
Swiss Ornithological Institute
Haverkamp, Paul
University of Zurich
Ganswindt, André
University of Pretoria
Manser, Marta
University of Zurich
Clutton-Brock, Tim
University of Cambridge
Ozgul, Arpat
University of Zurich
Cozzi, Gabriele
University of Zurich
Behavioural change during dispersal and its relationship to survival and
reproduction in a cooperative breeder
Dryad
dataset
2021
behavioural response
faecal glucocorticoid metabolites
Foraging
reproductive skew
survival
Suricata suricatta
Vigilance
2021-07-14T00:00:00Z
2021-07-14T00:00:00Z
en
1462707 bytes
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CC0 1.0 Universal (CC0 1.0) Public Domain Dedication
(1) The ability of dispersing individuals to adjust their behaviour to
changing conditions is instrumental in overcoming challenges and reducing
dispersal costs, consequently increasing overall dispersal success.
Understanding how dispersers’ behaviour and physiology change during the
dispersal process, and how they differ from resident individuals, can shed
light on the mechanisms by which dispersers increase survival and maximise
reproduction. (2) By analysing individual behaviour and concentrations of
faecal glucocorticoid metabolites (fGCM), a stress-associated biomarker,
we sought to identify the proximate causes behind differences in survival
and reproduction between dispersing and resident meerkats (Suricata
suricatta). (3) We used data collected on 67 dispersing and 108 resident
females to investigate (i) which individual, social, and environmental
factors are correlated to foraging and vigilance, and whether the role of
such factors differs among dispersal phases, and between dispersers and
residents; (ii) how time allocated to either foraging or vigilance
correlated to survival in dispersers and residents; and (iii) the link
between aggression and change in fGCM concentration, and their
relationship with reproductive rates in dispersing groups and resident
groups with either long-established or newly established dominant females.
(4) Time allocated to foraging increased across dispersal phases, while
time allocated to vigilance decreased. Time allocated to foraging and
vigilance correlated positively, and negatively respectively, with
dispersers’ group size. We did not find a group size effect for residents.
High proportions of time allocated to foraging correlated with high
survival, and more so in dispersers, suggesting that maintaining good
physical condition may reduce mortality during dispersal. Further, while
subordinate individuals rarely reproduced in resident groups, the
conception rate of subordinates in newly formed dispersing groups was
equal to that of their dominant individuals. Mirroring conception rates,
in resident groups, fGCM concentrations were lower in subordinates than in
dominants, whereas in disperser groups, fGCM concentrations did not differ
between subordinates and dominants. (5) Our results, which highlight the
relationship between behavioural and physiological factors and demographic
rates, provide insights into some of the mechanisms that individuals of a
cooperative species can use to increase overall dispersal success.