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Antje Engelhardt - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Costs of Mate-Guarding in wild male long-tailed macaques (Macaca fascicularis): Physiological stress and aggression
Hormones and behavior, 2014Co-Authors: Cédric Girard-buttoz, Michael Heistermann, Erdiansyah Rahmi, Muhammad Agil, Panji Ahmad Fauzan, Antje EngelhardtAbstract:Mate-Guarding is an important determinant of male reproductive success in a number of species. However, it is known to potentially incur costs. The aim of the present study was to assess the effect of Mate-Guarding on male physiological stress and aggression in long-tailed macaques, a species in which males Mate-guard females to a lesser extent than predicted by the Priority of Access model (PoA). The study was carried out during two mating periods on three groups of wild long-tailed macaques in Indonesia by combining behavioral observations with non-invasive measurements of fecal glucocorticoid (fGC) levels. Mate-Guarding was associated with a general rise in male stress hormone levels but, from a certain threshold of Mate-Guarding onwards, increased vigilance time was associated with a decrease in stress hormone output. Mate-Guarding also increased male-male aggression rate and male vigilance time. Overall, alpha males were more physiologically stressed than other males independently of mating competition. Increased glucocorticoid levels during Mate-Guarding are most likely adaptive since it may help males to mobilize extra-energy required for Mate-Guarding and ultiMately maintain a balanced energetic status. However, repeated exposure to high levels of stress over an extended period is potentially deleterious to the immune system and thus may carry costs. This potential physiological cost together with the cost of increased aggression Mate-Guarding male face may limit the male's ability to Mate-guard females, explaining the deviance from the PoA model observed in long-tailed macaques. Comparing our results to previous findings we discuss how ecological factors, reproductive seasonality and rank achievement may modulate the extent to which costs of Mate-Guarding limit male monopolization abilities.
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Costs of and Investment in Mate-Guarding in Wild Long-Tailed Macaques (Macaca fascicularis): Influences of Female Characteristics and Male–Female Social Bonds
International Journal of Primatology, 2014Co-Authors: Cédric Girard-buttoz, Michael Heistermann, Erdiansyah Rahmi, Muhammad Agil, Panji Ahmad Fauzan, Antje EngelhardtAbstract:Male priMates living in multimale groups tend to direct Mate and Mate-Guarding choices toward females of high reproductive value, i.e., high-ranking, parous females, or females with which they share strong bonds. Little is known, however, about the constraints that may limit male Mate-Guarding choices (the costs of this behavior) and the influence of the females’ quality on male investment in Mate-Guarding. We aimed to study the effects of female rank, parity status, and male–female social bond strength on the costs of and investment in Mate-Guarding by males. We carried out our study during two reproductive seasons on three groups of wild long-tailed macaques in Indonesia. We combined behavioral observations on male locomotion and activity with noninvasive measurements of fecal glucocorticoids (fGC). Males spent less time feeding when Mate-Guarding nulliparous females than when Mate-Guarding parous females and tended to have higher fGC levels when Mate-Guarding low-ranking nulliparous females than when Mate-Guarding high-ranking nulliparous ones. Evolution should thus favor male choice for high-ranking parous females because such a decision brings benefits at proxiMate (reduced costs of Mate-Guarding) and ultiMate (higher reproductive value) levels. Further, male investment in Mate-Guarding was flexible and contingent on female reproductive and social value. Males were more vigilant and more aggressive toward other males when Mate-Guarding females to which they were strongly bonded and/or high-ranking ones than when Mate-Guarding other females. Our findings bring a new dimension to the study of Mate choice by showing that males not only Mate preferentially with high-quality females but may also aim to secure paternity with these females through optimized monopolization.
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Mate-Guarding constrains feeding activity but not energetic status of wild male long-tailed macaques (Macaca fascicularis)
Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology, 2014Co-Authors: Cédric Girard-buttoz, Michael Heistermann, Erdiansyah Rahmi, Muhammad Agil, Panji Ahmad Fauzan, Anna Marzec, Antje EngelhardtAbstract:Mate-Guarding is an important determinant of male reproductive success in a number of species. Little is known however about the constraints of this behaviour, e.g. the associated energetic costs. We investigated these costs in long-tailed macaques where alpha males Mate guard females to a lesser extent than predicted by the priority of access model. The study was carried out during two mating periods on three wild groups living in the Gunung Leuser National Park, Indonesia. We combined behavioural observations on males’ locomotion and feeding activity, GPS records of distance travelled and non-invasive measurements of urinary C-peptide (UCP), a physiological indicator of male energetic status. Mate-Guarding led to a decrease in feeding time and fruit consumption suggesting a reduced intake of energy. At the same time, vertical locomotion was reduced, which potentially saved energy. These findings, together with the fact that we did not find an effect of Mate-Guarding on UCP levels, suggest that energy intake and expenditure was balanced during Mate-Guarding in our study males. Mate-Guarding thus seems to not be energetically costly under all circumstances. Given that in strictly seasonal rhesus macaques, high-ranking males lose physical condition over the mating period, we hypothesise that the energetic costs of Mate-Guarding vary inter-specifically depending on the degree of seasonality and that males of non-strictly seasonal species might be better adapted to maintain balanced energetic condition year-round. Finally, our results illustrate the importance of combining behavioural assessments of both energy intake and expenditure with physiological measures when investigating energetic costs of behavioural strategies.
Cédric Girard-buttoz - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Costs of Mate-Guarding in wild male long-tailed macaques (Macaca fascicularis): Physiological stress and aggression
Hormones and behavior, 2014Co-Authors: Cédric Girard-buttoz, Michael Heistermann, Erdiansyah Rahmi, Muhammad Agil, Panji Ahmad Fauzan, Antje EngelhardtAbstract:Mate-Guarding is an important determinant of male reproductive success in a number of species. However, it is known to potentially incur costs. The aim of the present study was to assess the effect of Mate-Guarding on male physiological stress and aggression in long-tailed macaques, a species in which males Mate-guard females to a lesser extent than predicted by the Priority of Access model (PoA). The study was carried out during two mating periods on three groups of wild long-tailed macaques in Indonesia by combining behavioral observations with non-invasive measurements of fecal glucocorticoid (fGC) levels. Mate-Guarding was associated with a general rise in male stress hormone levels but, from a certain threshold of Mate-Guarding onwards, increased vigilance time was associated with a decrease in stress hormone output. Mate-Guarding also increased male-male aggression rate and male vigilance time. Overall, alpha males were more physiologically stressed than other males independently of mating competition. Increased glucocorticoid levels during Mate-Guarding are most likely adaptive since it may help males to mobilize extra-energy required for Mate-Guarding and ultiMately maintain a balanced energetic status. However, repeated exposure to high levels of stress over an extended period is potentially deleterious to the immune system and thus may carry costs. This potential physiological cost together with the cost of increased aggression Mate-Guarding male face may limit the male's ability to Mate-guard females, explaining the deviance from the PoA model observed in long-tailed macaques. Comparing our results to previous findings we discuss how ecological factors, reproductive seasonality and rank achievement may modulate the extent to which costs of Mate-Guarding limit male monopolization abilities.
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Costs of and Investment in Mate-Guarding in Wild Long-Tailed Macaques (Macaca fascicularis): Influences of Female Characteristics and Male–Female Social Bonds
International Journal of Primatology, 2014Co-Authors: Cédric Girard-buttoz, Michael Heistermann, Erdiansyah Rahmi, Muhammad Agil, Panji Ahmad Fauzan, Antje EngelhardtAbstract:Male priMates living in multimale groups tend to direct Mate and Mate-Guarding choices toward females of high reproductive value, i.e., high-ranking, parous females, or females with which they share strong bonds. Little is known, however, about the constraints that may limit male Mate-Guarding choices (the costs of this behavior) and the influence of the females’ quality on male investment in Mate-Guarding. We aimed to study the effects of female rank, parity status, and male–female social bond strength on the costs of and investment in Mate-Guarding by males. We carried out our study during two reproductive seasons on three groups of wild long-tailed macaques in Indonesia. We combined behavioral observations on male locomotion and activity with noninvasive measurements of fecal glucocorticoids (fGC). Males spent less time feeding when Mate-Guarding nulliparous females than when Mate-Guarding parous females and tended to have higher fGC levels when Mate-Guarding low-ranking nulliparous females than when Mate-Guarding high-ranking nulliparous ones. Evolution should thus favor male choice for high-ranking parous females because such a decision brings benefits at proxiMate (reduced costs of Mate-Guarding) and ultiMate (higher reproductive value) levels. Further, male investment in Mate-Guarding was flexible and contingent on female reproductive and social value. Males were more vigilant and more aggressive toward other males when Mate-Guarding females to which they were strongly bonded and/or high-ranking ones than when Mate-Guarding other females. Our findings bring a new dimension to the study of Mate choice by showing that males not only Mate preferentially with high-quality females but may also aim to secure paternity with these females through optimized monopolization.
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Mate-Guarding constrains feeding activity but not energetic status of wild male long-tailed macaques (Macaca fascicularis)
Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology, 2014Co-Authors: Cédric Girard-buttoz, Michael Heistermann, Erdiansyah Rahmi, Muhammad Agil, Panji Ahmad Fauzan, Anna Marzec, Antje EngelhardtAbstract:Mate-Guarding is an important determinant of male reproductive success in a number of species. Little is known however about the constraints of this behaviour, e.g. the associated energetic costs. We investigated these costs in long-tailed macaques where alpha males Mate guard females to a lesser extent than predicted by the priority of access model. The study was carried out during two mating periods on three wild groups living in the Gunung Leuser National Park, Indonesia. We combined behavioural observations on males’ locomotion and feeding activity, GPS records of distance travelled and non-invasive measurements of urinary C-peptide (UCP), a physiological indicator of male energetic status. Mate-Guarding led to a decrease in feeding time and fruit consumption suggesting a reduced intake of energy. At the same time, vertical locomotion was reduced, which potentially saved energy. These findings, together with the fact that we did not find an effect of Mate-Guarding on UCP levels, suggest that energy intake and expenditure was balanced during Mate-Guarding in our study males. Mate-Guarding thus seems to not be energetically costly under all circumstances. Given that in strictly seasonal rhesus macaques, high-ranking males lose physical condition over the mating period, we hypothesise that the energetic costs of Mate-Guarding vary inter-specifically depending on the degree of seasonality and that males of non-strictly seasonal species might be better adapted to maintain balanced energetic condition year-round. Finally, our results illustrate the importance of combining behavioural assessments of both energy intake and expenditure with physiological measures when investigating energetic costs of behavioural strategies.
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Costs of Mate-Guarding in wild male long-tailed macaques (Macaca fascicularis)
2014Co-Authors: Cédric Girard-buttozAbstract:In promiscuous mating systems, several males compete with each other for access to fertile females, and males have evolved a variety of mating tactics to outcompete their rivals. Mate-Guarding is a mating tactic used by males of several vertebrate and invertebrate taxa to exclude other males from accessing the guarded female, and hence secure their paternity. In multi-male mammal groups, high-ranking males are often the ones Mate-Guarding females the most, since they gain priority of access to females and are the only one capable of efficiently monopolising females. Whereas Mate-Guarding has been proven to increase male reproductive success, this mating tactic may also entail some costs associated with life-history trade-offs between current and future reproduction, body condition maintenance and survival. In turn, these costs may limit the ability of top-ranking males to monopolise females and hence affect male reproductive skew (i.e. the partitioning of reproduction among males). Costs of mating tactics may also promote the evolution of male Mate-choice by forcing the males to concentrate their reproductive effort on the females with the highest fitness value. Quantifying the costs of Mate-Guarding may therefore shed light on the factors driving the evolution of male mating decisions and ultiMately contributes to our understanding of variation in male reproductive skew. PriMates are an interesting taxa to study this question since several species live in stable multi-male groups and Mate-Guarding is a highly beneficial mating tactic commonly employed by high-ranking males. However, studies investigating the costs of Mate-Guarding in priMates are mainly limited to the quantification of feeding costs and yielded, so far, inconsistent results. Our understanding of these costs is also impaired by the lack of a reliable non-invasive physiological marker of energetic condition in non-hominid priMates. The overall aim of this thesis was therefore to quantify the costs of Mate-Guarding for males in a priMate species living in multi-male groups, the long-tailed macaques (Macaca fascicularis). In this species, alpha males Mate-guard females to a lower extent than predicted by the Priority of Access model, suggesting that costs of Mate-Guarding may limit males’ ability to monopolise females. In study 1, I evaluated the suitability of urinary C-peptide (UCP, a by-product of insulin production) as a marker of male energetic status in macaques. In study 2 and 3, I quantified the energetic, physiological and physical (i.e. aggression) costs of Mate-Guarding. Finally, in study 4, I investigated the influence of female value on the costs of Mate-Guarding and the investment of males into this behaviour. To carry out the validation of UCP as a reliable marker of energetic status in non-hominid priMates (study 1), I first investigated the relationship between UCP measures and indexes of body condition in free-ranging and captive macaques. UCP levels were positively correlated with body-mass index and skinfold-fatness across individuals. In addition, a food reduction experiment revealed that UCP levels co-varied with changes in both body mass and dietary intake. UCP is therefore a useful marker to track non-invasively intra- and inter-individual variations in body condition and nutritional status. Subsequently, I studied, during two mating periods, three groups of wild long-tailed macaques living in the Ketambe research area, Gunung Leuser National Park, Indonesia. To provide a comprehensive picture of the potential costs of Mate-Guarding, while controlling for environmental factors, I combined 1) focal behavioural observations on males’ activity, height in the canopy, and socio-sexual interactions, 2) GPS records of distance travelled, 3) non-invasive measurements of physiological stress levels (faecal glucocorticoids, fGC) and energetic status (UCP) and 4) assessments of fruit availability. In total 2088 hours of focal data, 331 urine samples and 771 faecal samples were collected and analysed and 360 fruit trees were surveyed monthly. In study 2, I found that Mate-Guarding reduced parameters of both energy intake and expenditure but had no significant overall effect on a male’s energetic status (UCP levels). These results suggest that energy intake and expenditure were balanced during Mate-Guarding in the study males. Study 3 revealed that during Mate-Guarding, males had, in general, higher fGC levels but this effect was modulated by a male’s vigilance time. Mate-Guarding also increased a male’s vigilance time and male-male aggression rates. In addition, alpha males were more stressed than other males year round, independently of mating competition. I suggest that elevated glucocorticoid levels during Mate-Guarding may help males to maintain their energetic homeostasis but may constitute a long-term cost inherent to the risk of exposure to chronic stress. The combination of this physiological cost and the risk of injury associated with aggression may limit the ability of alpha males to Mate-guard females and hence affect male reproductive skew. In study 4, I showed that male long-tailed macaques may reduce some costs of Mate-Guarding by selectively monopolising females with high reproductive value since males had lower fGC when Mate-Guarding high-ranking parous females. Furthermore, males adjusted their Mate-Guarding investment to female quality by being more vigilant and more aggressive when Mate-Guarding high ranking females or females with whom they had stronger bonds. This later result shows that males make Mate-Guarding choices not only by Mate-Guarding highly valuable females longer, but also by monopolising them better. In this thesis I identified clear costs of Mate-Guarding in a priMate species and highlight how these costs may influence male reproductive skew. I suggest that male long-tailed macaques may have evolved an “incomplete female monopolisation strategy” whereby males limit the costs of Mate-Guarding by selectively Mate-Guarding only certain females and by monopolising females of low value less thoroughly. This incomplete female monopoly may be a crucial component of a top-ranking male’s overall energy management strategy allowing him to respond to rank challenges year round and hence enhance the alpha tenure length and associated fitness benefits. By comparing my results with other mammalian taxa, I discuss in this thesis how the relationship between costs of male reproductive effort and reproductive skew might be modulated by 1) reproductive seasonality, 2) male energy management strategy, 3) males’ top dominance rank achievement process and 4) social structure. Future studies on the cost of male mating tactics should consider the complexity of male reproductive effort, which is not limited solely to the reproductive periods and may be distributed over the whole year and expressed as male-male competition for dominance status or social interactions.
Michael Heistermann - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Costs of Mate-Guarding in wild male long-tailed macaques (Macaca fascicularis): Physiological stress and aggression
Hormones and behavior, 2014Co-Authors: Cédric Girard-buttoz, Michael Heistermann, Erdiansyah Rahmi, Muhammad Agil, Panji Ahmad Fauzan, Antje EngelhardtAbstract:Mate-Guarding is an important determinant of male reproductive success in a number of species. However, it is known to potentially incur costs. The aim of the present study was to assess the effect of Mate-Guarding on male physiological stress and aggression in long-tailed macaques, a species in which males Mate-guard females to a lesser extent than predicted by the Priority of Access model (PoA). The study was carried out during two mating periods on three groups of wild long-tailed macaques in Indonesia by combining behavioral observations with non-invasive measurements of fecal glucocorticoid (fGC) levels. Mate-Guarding was associated with a general rise in male stress hormone levels but, from a certain threshold of Mate-Guarding onwards, increased vigilance time was associated with a decrease in stress hormone output. Mate-Guarding also increased male-male aggression rate and male vigilance time. Overall, alpha males were more physiologically stressed than other males independently of mating competition. Increased glucocorticoid levels during Mate-Guarding are most likely adaptive since it may help males to mobilize extra-energy required for Mate-Guarding and ultiMately maintain a balanced energetic status. However, repeated exposure to high levels of stress over an extended period is potentially deleterious to the immune system and thus may carry costs. This potential physiological cost together with the cost of increased aggression Mate-Guarding male face may limit the male's ability to Mate-guard females, explaining the deviance from the PoA model observed in long-tailed macaques. Comparing our results to previous findings we discuss how ecological factors, reproductive seasonality and rank achievement may modulate the extent to which costs of Mate-Guarding limit male monopolization abilities.
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Lack of Evidence for Energetic Costs of Mate-Guarding in Wild Male Assamese Macaques (Macaca assamensis)
International Journal of Primatology, 2014Co-Authors: Oliver Schülke, Michael Heistermann, Julia OstnerAbstract:Mate-Guarding is a widespread and efficient male strategy for increasing paternity success. The inability to guard entire female receptive phases or complete lack of Mate-Guarding has been explained by energetic constraints posed on males. The energetic costs per unit time a male can afford to suffer are thought to be lowest in year-round breeding species in marginal habitats and highest in seasonally breeding species in rich habitats. Here we test the prediction that Mate-Guarding is energetically costly in seasonal breeders in marginal habitats. We observed all males in one group of wild Assamese macaques ( Macaca assamensis ) for two 4-mo mating seasons and recorded activity and travel paths via focal animal sampling, physical condition via visual inspection, and collected feces for analysis of glucocorticoid levels. Generalized linear mixed model (GLMM) analyses did not reveal an effect of Mate-Guarding on time spent feeding or moving or on distance traveled, travel speed, directedness of travel, or glucocorticoid levels. This lack of Mate-Guarding costs was consistent with the lack of a relationship between individual time spent Mate-Guarding and change in physical condition over the mating season. Within the limitations of our study the results do not support the idea that seasonally breeding males in marginal habitats face energetic costs of Mate-Guarding. With others we suggest instead that though these costs may be found in species where strength, size, and mass predict rank, mating, and reproductive success, males may not engage in costly Mate-Guarding in species such as Assamese macaques where also smaller, weaker males may attain high social status via political coalitions or other routes alternative to direct contest over guarded females.
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Costs of and Investment in Mate-Guarding in Wild Long-Tailed Macaques (Macaca fascicularis): Influences of Female Characteristics and Male–Female Social Bonds
International Journal of Primatology, 2014Co-Authors: Cédric Girard-buttoz, Michael Heistermann, Erdiansyah Rahmi, Muhammad Agil, Panji Ahmad Fauzan, Antje EngelhardtAbstract:Male priMates living in multimale groups tend to direct Mate and Mate-Guarding choices toward females of high reproductive value, i.e., high-ranking, parous females, or females with which they share strong bonds. Little is known, however, about the constraints that may limit male Mate-Guarding choices (the costs of this behavior) and the influence of the females’ quality on male investment in Mate-Guarding. We aimed to study the effects of female rank, parity status, and male–female social bond strength on the costs of and investment in Mate-Guarding by males. We carried out our study during two reproductive seasons on three groups of wild long-tailed macaques in Indonesia. We combined behavioral observations on male locomotion and activity with noninvasive measurements of fecal glucocorticoids (fGC). Males spent less time feeding when Mate-Guarding nulliparous females than when Mate-Guarding parous females and tended to have higher fGC levels when Mate-Guarding low-ranking nulliparous females than when Mate-Guarding high-ranking nulliparous ones. Evolution should thus favor male choice for high-ranking parous females because such a decision brings benefits at proxiMate (reduced costs of Mate-Guarding) and ultiMate (higher reproductive value) levels. Further, male investment in Mate-Guarding was flexible and contingent on female reproductive and social value. Males were more vigilant and more aggressive toward other males when Mate-Guarding females to which they were strongly bonded and/or high-ranking ones than when Mate-Guarding other females. Our findings bring a new dimension to the study of Mate choice by showing that males not only Mate preferentially with high-quality females but may also aim to secure paternity with these females through optimized monopolization.
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Mate-Guarding constrains feeding activity but not energetic status of wild male long-tailed macaques (Macaca fascicularis)
Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology, 2014Co-Authors: Cédric Girard-buttoz, Michael Heistermann, Erdiansyah Rahmi, Muhammad Agil, Panji Ahmad Fauzan, Anna Marzec, Antje EngelhardtAbstract:Mate-Guarding is an important determinant of male reproductive success in a number of species. Little is known however about the constraints of this behaviour, e.g. the associated energetic costs. We investigated these costs in long-tailed macaques where alpha males Mate guard females to a lesser extent than predicted by the priority of access model. The study was carried out during two mating periods on three wild groups living in the Gunung Leuser National Park, Indonesia. We combined behavioural observations on males’ locomotion and feeding activity, GPS records of distance travelled and non-invasive measurements of urinary C-peptide (UCP), a physiological indicator of male energetic status. Mate-Guarding led to a decrease in feeding time and fruit consumption suggesting a reduced intake of energy. At the same time, vertical locomotion was reduced, which potentially saved energy. These findings, together with the fact that we did not find an effect of Mate-Guarding on UCP levels, suggest that energy intake and expenditure was balanced during Mate-Guarding in our study males. Mate-Guarding thus seems to not be energetically costly under all circumstances. Given that in strictly seasonal rhesus macaques, high-ranking males lose physical condition over the mating period, we hypothesise that the energetic costs of Mate-Guarding vary inter-specifically depending on the degree of seasonality and that males of non-strictly seasonal species might be better adapted to maintain balanced energetic condition year-round. Finally, our results illustrate the importance of combining behavioural assessments of both energy intake and expenditure with physiological measures when investigating energetic costs of behavioural strategies.
Klaus Reinhold - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Disentangling a shared trait: male control over Mate Guarding duration revealed by a Mate exchange experiment
Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology, 2020Co-Authors: Michael Haneke-reinders, Anna-paulina Mazur, Oleksandr Zyma, Steven A. Ramm, Klaus ReinholdAbstract:Shared behavioural traits result from the interaction of two or more individuals, making it difficult to discern which individual is in control of the behaviour of interest. Especially in the case of shared reproductive traits such as mating duration or Mate Guarding duration is this an important issue to resolve, because these are potentially closely connected to fitness and are likely to exhibit sexual conflict. Here, we sought to disentangle which sex controls Mate Guarding duration in the tropical house cricket Gryllodes sigillatus , a species in which Mate Guarding and nuptial feeding by the male have been proposed to prevent premature removal of the transferred spermatophore by the female. To do so, we performed a series of mating experiments in a paired design, in which the first mating dyad was allowed to start mating some time before the second dyad. Once both dyads were in the Mate Guarding phase, we then interrupted them and exchanged partners, enabling us to determine whether the remaining Guarding duration depended more on the duration of Guarding already performed by the male in the new dyad (implying male control) or on the Guarding already received by the female (implying female control). We found that the time a female was guarded overall was significantly affected by how long the exchanged male had already engaged in Mate Guarding with the previous female, but conversely, the total time males guarded both females was unaffected by the duration of Guarding that the exchanged female had previously received. Our data thus clearly demonstrate that males rather than females control Mate Guarding duration and adjust the duration according to females’ weight. Significance statement It is not easy to determine which individual is in control of a shared behavioural trait (SBT). This information could provide insight into selection pressure on one sex and could help us understand differences in SBTs between related species or between different dyads of one species. We used a relative novel but simple method to disentangle a SBT in a cricket. We performed mating experiments and exchanged the mating partners after copulation within the Mate Guarding phase and measured the total Guarding duration. Our analyses showed males were not influenced by the exchange and guarded as long as expected regardless how long the female were guarded before by another male. Our data suggest males are likely in control of Mate Guarding duration, and they have no ability to recognize post-copulatory Mate exchange.
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Disentangling a shared trait: male control over Mate Guarding duration revealed by a Mate exchange experiment
Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology, 2020Co-Authors: Michael Haneke-reinders, Anna-paulina Mazur, Oleksandr Zyma, Steven A. Ramm, Klaus ReinholdAbstract:Shared behavioural traits result from the interaction of two or more individuals, making it difficult to discern which individual is in control of the behaviour of interest. Especially in the case of shared reproductive traits such as mating duration or Mate Guarding duration is this an important issue to resolve, because these are potentially closely connected to fitness and are likely to exhibit sexual conflict. Here, we sought to disentangle which sex controls Mate Guarding duration in the tropical house cricket Gryllodes sigillatus, a species in which Mate Guarding and nuptial feeding by the male have been proposed to prevent premature removal of the transferred spermatophore by the female. To do so, we performed a series of mating experiments in a paired design, in which the first mating dyad was allowed to start mating some time before the second dyad. Once both dyads were in the Mate Guarding phase, we then interrupted them and exchanged partners, enabling us to determine whether the remaining Guarding duration depended more on the duration of Guarding already performed by the male in the new dyad (implying male control) or on the Guarding already received by the female (implying female control). We found that the time a female was guarded overall was significantly affected by how long the exchanged male had already engaged in Mate Guarding with the previous female, but conversely, the total time males guarded both females was unaffected by the duration of Guarding that the exchanged female had previously received. Our data thus clearly demonstrate that males rather than females control Mate Guarding duration and adjust the duration according to females’ weight. It is not easy to determine which individual is in control of a shared behavioural trait (SBT). This information could provide insight into selection pressure on one sex and could help us understand differences in SBTs between related species or between different dyads of one species. We used a relative novel but simple method to disentangle a SBT in a cricket. We performed mating experiments and exchanged the mating partners after copulation within the Mate Guarding phase and measured the total Guarding duration. Our analyses showed males were not influenced by the exchange and guarded as long as expected regardless how long the female were guarded before by another male. Our data suggest males are likely in control of Mate Guarding duration, and they have no ability to recognize post-copulatory Mate exchange.
Panji Ahmad Fauzan - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Costs of Mate-Guarding in wild male long-tailed macaques (Macaca fascicularis): Physiological stress and aggression
Hormones and behavior, 2014Co-Authors: Cédric Girard-buttoz, Michael Heistermann, Erdiansyah Rahmi, Muhammad Agil, Panji Ahmad Fauzan, Antje EngelhardtAbstract:Mate-Guarding is an important determinant of male reproductive success in a number of species. However, it is known to potentially incur costs. The aim of the present study was to assess the effect of Mate-Guarding on male physiological stress and aggression in long-tailed macaques, a species in which males Mate-guard females to a lesser extent than predicted by the Priority of Access model (PoA). The study was carried out during two mating periods on three groups of wild long-tailed macaques in Indonesia by combining behavioral observations with non-invasive measurements of fecal glucocorticoid (fGC) levels. Mate-Guarding was associated with a general rise in male stress hormone levels but, from a certain threshold of Mate-Guarding onwards, increased vigilance time was associated with a decrease in stress hormone output. Mate-Guarding also increased male-male aggression rate and male vigilance time. Overall, alpha males were more physiologically stressed than other males independently of mating competition. Increased glucocorticoid levels during Mate-Guarding are most likely adaptive since it may help males to mobilize extra-energy required for Mate-Guarding and ultiMately maintain a balanced energetic status. However, repeated exposure to high levels of stress over an extended period is potentially deleterious to the immune system and thus may carry costs. This potential physiological cost together with the cost of increased aggression Mate-Guarding male face may limit the male's ability to Mate-guard females, explaining the deviance from the PoA model observed in long-tailed macaques. Comparing our results to previous findings we discuss how ecological factors, reproductive seasonality and rank achievement may modulate the extent to which costs of Mate-Guarding limit male monopolization abilities.
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Costs of and Investment in Mate-Guarding in Wild Long-Tailed Macaques (Macaca fascicularis): Influences of Female Characteristics and Male–Female Social Bonds
International Journal of Primatology, 2014Co-Authors: Cédric Girard-buttoz, Michael Heistermann, Erdiansyah Rahmi, Muhammad Agil, Panji Ahmad Fauzan, Antje EngelhardtAbstract:Male priMates living in multimale groups tend to direct Mate and Mate-Guarding choices toward females of high reproductive value, i.e., high-ranking, parous females, or females with which they share strong bonds. Little is known, however, about the constraints that may limit male Mate-Guarding choices (the costs of this behavior) and the influence of the females’ quality on male investment in Mate-Guarding. We aimed to study the effects of female rank, parity status, and male–female social bond strength on the costs of and investment in Mate-Guarding by males. We carried out our study during two reproductive seasons on three groups of wild long-tailed macaques in Indonesia. We combined behavioral observations on male locomotion and activity with noninvasive measurements of fecal glucocorticoids (fGC). Males spent less time feeding when Mate-Guarding nulliparous females than when Mate-Guarding parous females and tended to have higher fGC levels when Mate-Guarding low-ranking nulliparous females than when Mate-Guarding high-ranking nulliparous ones. Evolution should thus favor male choice for high-ranking parous females because such a decision brings benefits at proxiMate (reduced costs of Mate-Guarding) and ultiMate (higher reproductive value) levels. Further, male investment in Mate-Guarding was flexible and contingent on female reproductive and social value. Males were more vigilant and more aggressive toward other males when Mate-Guarding females to which they were strongly bonded and/or high-ranking ones than when Mate-Guarding other females. Our findings bring a new dimension to the study of Mate choice by showing that males not only Mate preferentially with high-quality females but may also aim to secure paternity with these females through optimized monopolization.
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Mate-Guarding constrains feeding activity but not energetic status of wild male long-tailed macaques (Macaca fascicularis)
Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology, 2014Co-Authors: Cédric Girard-buttoz, Michael Heistermann, Erdiansyah Rahmi, Muhammad Agil, Panji Ahmad Fauzan, Anna Marzec, Antje EngelhardtAbstract:Mate-Guarding is an important determinant of male reproductive success in a number of species. Little is known however about the constraints of this behaviour, e.g. the associated energetic costs. We investigated these costs in long-tailed macaques where alpha males Mate guard females to a lesser extent than predicted by the priority of access model. The study was carried out during two mating periods on three wild groups living in the Gunung Leuser National Park, Indonesia. We combined behavioural observations on males’ locomotion and feeding activity, GPS records of distance travelled and non-invasive measurements of urinary C-peptide (UCP), a physiological indicator of male energetic status. Mate-Guarding led to a decrease in feeding time and fruit consumption suggesting a reduced intake of energy. At the same time, vertical locomotion was reduced, which potentially saved energy. These findings, together with the fact that we did not find an effect of Mate-Guarding on UCP levels, suggest that energy intake and expenditure was balanced during Mate-Guarding in our study males. Mate-Guarding thus seems to not be energetically costly under all circumstances. Given that in strictly seasonal rhesus macaques, high-ranking males lose physical condition over the mating period, we hypothesise that the energetic costs of Mate-Guarding vary inter-specifically depending on the degree of seasonality and that males of non-strictly seasonal species might be better adapted to maintain balanced energetic condition year-round. Finally, our results illustrate the importance of combining behavioural assessments of both energy intake and expenditure with physiological measures when investigating energetic costs of behavioural strategies.