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Neville Pillay - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Home range and use of residential gardens by Yellow Mongoose Cynictis penicillata in an urban environment
Urban Ecosystems, 2020Co-Authors: Nadine Elizabeth Cronk, Neville PillayAbstract:Urban areas provide small carnivores with an abundance of resources and reduced predation risk, resulting in higher population densities. Urban animals tend to have greatly reduced home range sizes in response to increased resource availability. We investigated the home range size of Yellow Mongooses Cynictis penicillata in an urban area and determined whether their home ranges overlapped with human residential areas. We studied the home range sizes of 8 collared and GPS tracked individuals in the Meyersdal Nature Area in South Africa; an area divided into two residential wildlife estates (4 individuals per estate): an Eco-Estate that was a built up residential area interspersed with natural areas; and a Nature Estate with reduced contact between animals and human residential areas. We used three methods to calculate home range size, namely Minimum Convex Polygon, Kernel Density Estimates and Local Convex Hull. Home range size was slightly larger in the Nature Estate, and male home ranges were larger than those of females. Compared to previous studies, home range sizes were considerably smaller in our study. Seasonal variation in home range could not be statistically compared, but, similar to non-urban populations, we observed smaller home range sizes during the breeding season (winter and spring) and larger sizes during the non-breeding season (autumn and summer). The overlap of home ranges with residential areas, and the record of multiple GPS fixes of tracked individuals within human residential gardens, was evident in both estates but to a greater extent in the Eco-Estate. Seasonal overlap with residential areas was greatest during autumn and winter. We showed that Yellow Mongooses modify their home ranges in response to urbanisation, which might be a consequence of abundant and easily accessible available resources, particularly during colder periods.
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Home range and use of residential gardens by Yellow Mongoose Cynictis penicillata in an urban environment
Urban Ecosystems, 2020Co-Authors: Nadine Elizabeth Cronk, Neville PillayAbstract:Urban areas provide small carnivores with an abundance of resources and reduced predation risk, resulting in higher population densities. Urban animals tend to have greatly reduced home range sizes in response to increased resource availability. We investigated the home range size of Yellow Mongooses Cynictis penicillata in an urban area and determined whether their home ranges overlapped with human residential areas. We studied the home range sizes of 8 collared and GPS tracked individuals in the Meyersdal Nature Area in South Africa; an area divided into two residential wildlife estates (4 individuals per estate): an Eco-Estate that was a built up residential area interspersed with natural areas; and a Nature Estate with reduced contact between animals and human residential areas. We used three methods to calculate home range size, namely Minimum Convex Polygon, Kernel Density Estimates and Local Convex Hull. Home range size was slightly larger in the Nature Estate, and male home ranges were larger than those of females. Compared to previous studies, home range sizes were considerably smaller in our study. Seasonal variation in home range could not be statistically compared, but, similar to non-urban populations, we observed smaller home range sizes during the breeding season (winter and spring) and larger sizes during the non-breeding season (autumn and summer). The overlap of home ranges with residential areas, and the record of multiple GPS fixes of tracked individuals within human residential gardens, was evident in both estates but to a greater extent in the Eco-Estate. Seasonal overlap with residential areas was greatest during autumn and winter. We showed that Yellow Mongooses modify their home ranges in response to urbanisation, which might be a consequence of abundant and easily accessible available resources, particularly during colder periods.
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Spatiotemporal co-occurrence and overlap of two sympatric Mongoose species in an urban environment
Journal of Urban Ecology, 2020Co-Authors: Nadine Elizabeth Cronk, Neville PillayAbstract:Abstract Small carnivores are becoming increasingly common in urban areas. What has received less attention is whether and how resource partitioning among sympatric species in urban areas facilitates their coexistence. We examined the spatial, temporal and combined spatiotemporal occurrence and overlap of co-existing Yellow Mongoose Cynictis penicillata and slender Mongoose Galerella sanguinea in an urban estate in South Africa. The reserve comprised two parts, an Eco-Estate where human residential and natural areas are interspersed and wildlife has greater contact with people, and a Nature Estate, where contact is reduced by palisade fencing between people and natural areas. Using photographic data from camera traps collected over 11 consecutive months, we found a moderate level of spatial overlap between the Mongoose species. Differences between the species occurred at a finer habitat scale: Yellow Mongooses were more common in open habitats located near human residents whereas the slender Mongooses were more common in covered areas further away from human residents. The detection probability of the Yellow Mongoose, however, was greater than that of the slender Mongoose, and the occupancy probability of the slender Mongoose was reduced in the presence of the Yellow Mongoose. Although both species demonstrated bimodal diurnal peaks in activity, they varied in their active periods, with temporal overlap being greater during colder than warmer months. No complete spatiotemporal overlap (occurrence in the same place at the same time/within a 10-min period) occurred. This may have been as a result of the difference in detection and occupancy probabilities of the two species. Resource availability (food), however, appears to influence the different habitat selection, space use, and activity patterns of Yellow and slender Mongoose in the study area. Therefore, we conclude that partitioning along the spatial and somewhat on the temporal dimensions aids in the coexistence of these Mongoose species in an urban environment.
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Dietary overlap of two sympatric African Mongoose species in an urban environment
Mammalia, 2019Co-Authors: Nadine Elizabeth Cronk, Neville PillayAbstract:Abstract Urbanisation creates challenges and opportunities for wildlife. Globally, small carnivores have colonised urban spaces, but we do not know whether or how sympatric carnivores partition resources in order to co-exist. We studied the diet and degree of dietary overlap of two sympatric herpestid Mongooses – Yellow, Cynictis penicillata, and slender, Galerella sanguinea Mongoose – in a small urban nature area in South Africa. The composition of 2600 Yellow and 2000 slender Mongoose scats was sampled over a year in an Eco-Estate, where wildlife have contact with humans, and a Nature Estate, where contact is reduced. We analysed the frequency of occurrence of invertebrates, mammals, birds, plants and anthropogenic items in scats. Invertebrates and mammals were most abundant for both species in the Nature Estate and for slender Mongoose in the Eco-Estate, while anthropogenic items were more prevalent in Yellow Mongoose scats in the Eco-Estate. Both species included anthropogenic items in their diet in the Eco-Estate only. Scat components varied seasonally. In summer, invertebrates were more abundant in scats of both species, yet during the colder months, invertebrates decreased and vertebrates (more so in the slender Mongoose) and anthropogenic items (more so in the Yellow Mongoose) increased. Dietary overlap was greatest in summer and lowest in winter. Nonetheless, the specialised slender Mongoose diet and a generalist Yellow Mongoose diet potentially facilitates their co-existence.
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Flexible Use of Urban Resources by the Yellow Mongoose Cynictis penicillata.
Animals, 2019Co-Authors: Nadine Elizabeth Cronk, Neville PillayAbstract:Several species are negatively impacted by urbanization, while others thrive in urban areas by exploiting anthropogenic habitats matching their pre-existing niche preferences, or by modifying their behavior for urban life. We studied the ecology of a recent urban resident, the Yellow Mongoose, in an urban ecological estate in South Africa. We assessed urban dwelling Yellow Mongooses’ diet, spatial and temporal occurrence, home range size, and whenever possible, compared our findings to the published literature on their non-urban conspecifics. Additionally, we evaluated occurrence overlap with residential gardens. Similar to their non-urban counterparts, scat analyses revealed that Yellow Mongooses in urban areas fed mainly on insects, particularly during spring/summer. In the colder months, anthropogenic items, small mammals and birds in scats increased. Camera trap surveys showed that the Mongooses were common in open habitats, similar to previous studies, and exhibited a species-typical bimodal diurnal activity pattern. The occurrence of these Mongooses was greater near human residences than at sites further away. Home range sizes were considerably smaller than those of non-urban Mongoose. Mongoose occurred in residential gardens, more so during the colder months. The urban Yellow Mongooses’ diet, habitat preference and activity patterns were similar to non-urban conspecifics. Nonetheless, the exploitation of anthropogenic food sources, occurrence in residential gardens and smaller home range sizes showed that they respond flexibly to urbanization, and these modifications might aid in their success in urban areas.
Nadine Elizabeth Cronk - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Home range and use of residential gardens by Yellow Mongoose Cynictis penicillata in an urban environment
Urban Ecosystems, 2020Co-Authors: Nadine Elizabeth Cronk, Neville PillayAbstract:Urban areas provide small carnivores with an abundance of resources and reduced predation risk, resulting in higher population densities. Urban animals tend to have greatly reduced home range sizes in response to increased resource availability. We investigated the home range size of Yellow Mongooses Cynictis penicillata in an urban area and determined whether their home ranges overlapped with human residential areas. We studied the home range sizes of 8 collared and GPS tracked individuals in the Meyersdal Nature Area in South Africa; an area divided into two residential wildlife estates (4 individuals per estate): an Eco-Estate that was a built up residential area interspersed with natural areas; and a Nature Estate with reduced contact between animals and human residential areas. We used three methods to calculate home range size, namely Minimum Convex Polygon, Kernel Density Estimates and Local Convex Hull. Home range size was slightly larger in the Nature Estate, and male home ranges were larger than those of females. Compared to previous studies, home range sizes were considerably smaller in our study. Seasonal variation in home range could not be statistically compared, but, similar to non-urban populations, we observed smaller home range sizes during the breeding season (winter and spring) and larger sizes during the non-breeding season (autumn and summer). The overlap of home ranges with residential areas, and the record of multiple GPS fixes of tracked individuals within human residential gardens, was evident in both estates but to a greater extent in the Eco-Estate. Seasonal overlap with residential areas was greatest during autumn and winter. We showed that Yellow Mongooses modify their home ranges in response to urbanisation, which might be a consequence of abundant and easily accessible available resources, particularly during colder periods.
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Home range and use of residential gardens by Yellow Mongoose Cynictis penicillata in an urban environment
Urban Ecosystems, 2020Co-Authors: Nadine Elizabeth Cronk, Neville PillayAbstract:Urban areas provide small carnivores with an abundance of resources and reduced predation risk, resulting in higher population densities. Urban animals tend to have greatly reduced home range sizes in response to increased resource availability. We investigated the home range size of Yellow Mongooses Cynictis penicillata in an urban area and determined whether their home ranges overlapped with human residential areas. We studied the home range sizes of 8 collared and GPS tracked individuals in the Meyersdal Nature Area in South Africa; an area divided into two residential wildlife estates (4 individuals per estate): an Eco-Estate that was a built up residential area interspersed with natural areas; and a Nature Estate with reduced contact between animals and human residential areas. We used three methods to calculate home range size, namely Minimum Convex Polygon, Kernel Density Estimates and Local Convex Hull. Home range size was slightly larger in the Nature Estate, and male home ranges were larger than those of females. Compared to previous studies, home range sizes were considerably smaller in our study. Seasonal variation in home range could not be statistically compared, but, similar to non-urban populations, we observed smaller home range sizes during the breeding season (winter and spring) and larger sizes during the non-breeding season (autumn and summer). The overlap of home ranges with residential areas, and the record of multiple GPS fixes of tracked individuals within human residential gardens, was evident in both estates but to a greater extent in the Eco-Estate. Seasonal overlap with residential areas was greatest during autumn and winter. We showed that Yellow Mongooses modify their home ranges in response to urbanisation, which might be a consequence of abundant and easily accessible available resources, particularly during colder periods.
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Spatiotemporal co-occurrence and overlap of two sympatric Mongoose species in an urban environment
Journal of Urban Ecology, 2020Co-Authors: Nadine Elizabeth Cronk, Neville PillayAbstract:Abstract Small carnivores are becoming increasingly common in urban areas. What has received less attention is whether and how resource partitioning among sympatric species in urban areas facilitates their coexistence. We examined the spatial, temporal and combined spatiotemporal occurrence and overlap of co-existing Yellow Mongoose Cynictis penicillata and slender Mongoose Galerella sanguinea in an urban estate in South Africa. The reserve comprised two parts, an Eco-Estate where human residential and natural areas are interspersed and wildlife has greater contact with people, and a Nature Estate, where contact is reduced by palisade fencing between people and natural areas. Using photographic data from camera traps collected over 11 consecutive months, we found a moderate level of spatial overlap between the Mongoose species. Differences between the species occurred at a finer habitat scale: Yellow Mongooses were more common in open habitats located near human residents whereas the slender Mongooses were more common in covered areas further away from human residents. The detection probability of the Yellow Mongoose, however, was greater than that of the slender Mongoose, and the occupancy probability of the slender Mongoose was reduced in the presence of the Yellow Mongoose. Although both species demonstrated bimodal diurnal peaks in activity, they varied in their active periods, with temporal overlap being greater during colder than warmer months. No complete spatiotemporal overlap (occurrence in the same place at the same time/within a 10-min period) occurred. This may have been as a result of the difference in detection and occupancy probabilities of the two species. Resource availability (food), however, appears to influence the different habitat selection, space use, and activity patterns of Yellow and slender Mongoose in the study area. Therefore, we conclude that partitioning along the spatial and somewhat on the temporal dimensions aids in the coexistence of these Mongoose species in an urban environment.
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Dietary overlap of two sympatric African Mongoose species in an urban environment
Mammalia, 2019Co-Authors: Nadine Elizabeth Cronk, Neville PillayAbstract:Abstract Urbanisation creates challenges and opportunities for wildlife. Globally, small carnivores have colonised urban spaces, but we do not know whether or how sympatric carnivores partition resources in order to co-exist. We studied the diet and degree of dietary overlap of two sympatric herpestid Mongooses – Yellow, Cynictis penicillata, and slender, Galerella sanguinea Mongoose – in a small urban nature area in South Africa. The composition of 2600 Yellow and 2000 slender Mongoose scats was sampled over a year in an Eco-Estate, where wildlife have contact with humans, and a Nature Estate, where contact is reduced. We analysed the frequency of occurrence of invertebrates, mammals, birds, plants and anthropogenic items in scats. Invertebrates and mammals were most abundant for both species in the Nature Estate and for slender Mongoose in the Eco-Estate, while anthropogenic items were more prevalent in Yellow Mongoose scats in the Eco-Estate. Both species included anthropogenic items in their diet in the Eco-Estate only. Scat components varied seasonally. In summer, invertebrates were more abundant in scats of both species, yet during the colder months, invertebrates decreased and vertebrates (more so in the slender Mongoose) and anthropogenic items (more so in the Yellow Mongoose) increased. Dietary overlap was greatest in summer and lowest in winter. Nonetheless, the specialised slender Mongoose diet and a generalist Yellow Mongoose diet potentially facilitates their co-existence.
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Flexible Use of Urban Resources by the Yellow Mongoose Cynictis penicillata.
Animals, 2019Co-Authors: Nadine Elizabeth Cronk, Neville PillayAbstract:Several species are negatively impacted by urbanization, while others thrive in urban areas by exploiting anthropogenic habitats matching their pre-existing niche preferences, or by modifying their behavior for urban life. We studied the ecology of a recent urban resident, the Yellow Mongoose, in an urban ecological estate in South Africa. We assessed urban dwelling Yellow Mongooses’ diet, spatial and temporal occurrence, home range size, and whenever possible, compared our findings to the published literature on their non-urban conspecifics. Additionally, we evaluated occurrence overlap with residential gardens. Similar to their non-urban counterparts, scat analyses revealed that Yellow Mongooses in urban areas fed mainly on insects, particularly during spring/summer. In the colder months, anthropogenic items, small mammals and birds in scats increased. Camera trap surveys showed that the Mongooses were common in open habitats, similar to previous studies, and exhibited a species-typical bimodal diurnal activity pattern. The occurrence of these Mongooses was greater near human residences than at sites further away. Home range sizes were considerably smaller than those of non-urban Mongoose. Mongoose occurred in residential gardens, more so during the colder months. The urban Yellow Mongooses’ diet, habitat preference and activity patterns were similar to non-urban conspecifics. Nonetheless, the exploitation of anthropogenic food sources, occurrence in residential gardens and smaller home range sizes showed that they respond flexibly to urbanization, and these modifications might aid in their success in urban areas.
Marta B. Manser - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Vocal Complexity in Meerkats and Other Mongoose Species
Advances in the Study of Behavior, 2014Co-Authors: Marta B. Manser, David A. W. A. M. Jansen, Beke Graw, Linda I. Hollén, Christophe A. H. Bousquet, Roman D. Furrer, Aliza Le RouxAbstract:Complex societies are suggested to generate complex communication. However, tests of this hypothesis rarely go beyond a superficial examination of social and communicative complexity. For a systematic approach, we first have to define what we mean by complexity. What defines social complexity, and what defines communicative complexity? What aspects of social complexity correlate with what aspects of communicative complexity? We reviewed the hypotheses put forward for the evolution of the diverse vocal communicative repertoires and variation within meerkats and four other Mongoose species. The obligate group living species, meerkats, dwarf Mongoose, and banded Mongoose, in comparison to the solitary slender Mongoose and the facultative social Yellow Mongoose show a wider variation in signal use. However, group size within the social Mongoose species does not correlate to vocal repertoire size and is rather explained by differences in their social organization and also by the ecology of the species. For example, meerkats and dwarf Mongoose seem to have evolved vocal systems based on many discrete call types, while banded Mongoose show a more graded system with fewer call types, though the amount of information conveyed to receivers may be the same in both cases. The comparison of vocal complexity in the different Mongoose species emphasizes the importance of identifying correlations of communicative variation with specific social contexts and taking the ecology of a species into account. Ultimately, the function of signals has to be considered from both the producer and receiver side, and in the natural habitat of a species, if we are ever to understand what explains the variation, complexity, as well as potential limitations in animal communication.
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Vigilance behaviour and fitness consequences: comparing a solitary foraging and an obligate group-foraging mammal
Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology, 2009Co-Authors: Aliza Le Roux, Michael I. Cherry, Lorenz Gygax, Marta B. ManserAbstract:Vigilance behaviour in gregarious species has been studied extensively, especially the relationship between individual vigilance and group size, which is often negative. Relatively little is known about the effect of conspecifics on vigilance in non-obligate social species or the influence of sociality itself on antipredator tactics. We investigated predator avoidance behaviour in the Yellow Mongoose, Cynictis penicillata , a group-living solitary forager, and compared it with a sympatric group-living, group-foraging herpestid, the meerkat, Suricata suricatta . In Yellow Mongooses, the presence of conspecifics during foraging—an infrequent occurrence—reduced their foraging time and success and increased individual vigilance, contrary to the classical group-size effect. Comparing the two herpestids, sociality did not appear to affect overt vigilance or survival rates but influenced general patterns of predator avoidance. Whereas meerkats relied on communal vigilance, costly vigilance postures, and auditory warnings against danger, Yellow Mongooses avoided predator detection by remaining close to safe refuges and increasing “low-cost” vigilance, which did not interfere with foraging. We suggest that foraging group size in herpestids is constrained by species-distinct vigilance patterns, in addition to habitat and prey preference.
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The vocal repertoire in a solitary foraging carnivore, Cynictis penicillata, may reflect facultative sociality
Naturwissenschaften, 2009Co-Authors: Aliza Le Roux, Michael I. Cherry, Marta B. ManserAbstract:We describe the vocal repertoire of a facultatively social carnivore, the Yellow Mongoose, Cynictis penicillata . Using a combination of close-range observations, recordings and experiments with simulated predators, we were able to obtain clear descriptions of call structure and function for a wide range of calls used by this herpestid. The vocal repertoire of the Yellow Mongooses comprised ten call types, half of which were used in appeasing or fearful contexts and half in aggressive interactions. Data from this study suggest that the Yellow Mongoose uses an urgency-based alarm calling system, indicating high and low urgency through two distinct call types. Compared to solitary Mongooses, the Yellow Mongoose has a large proportion of ‘friendly’ vocalisations that enhance group cohesion, but its vocal repertoire is smaller and less context-specific than those of obligate social species. This study of the vocal repertoire of the Yellow Mongoose is, to our knowledge, the most complete to have been conducted on a facultatively social species in its natural habitat.
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The effects of population density and sociality on scent marking in the Yellow Mongoose
Journal of Zoology, 2008Co-Authors: A. Le Roux, Michael I. Cherry, Marta B. ManserAbstract:We investigated scent marking behaviour in the Yellow Mongoose Cynictis penicillata, focusing on a low-density population where all offspring dispersed upon reaching sexual maturity. Dominant males appeared to be the main territory defenders and demarcators, with offspring foraging and marking only near the territory cores. The cheek-marking rates of dominant males increased during the breeding season and may have been involved in olfactory mate guarding. We compared our low-density population with a high-density population displaying natal philopatry. The two populations differed markedly in terms of individual contributions to territorial marking, as subordinate group members in the low-density population performed almost no territorial marking or defence, but were the primary scent-markers and territory defenders in the high-density population. We discuss scent-marking distinctions between populations in the context of ecological and social differences.
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The audience effect in a facultatively social mammal, the Yellow Mongoose, Cynictis penicillata
Animal Behaviour, 2008Co-Authors: Aliza Le Roux, Michael I. Cherry, Marta B. ManserAbstract:The audience effect has been shown in numerous group-living vertebrates but whether it is present in facultatively social species is unknown. We investigated the antipredator responses of the Yellow Mongoose, a mammal that dens in groups but primarily forages alone. To examine the effect that the social environment has on their communication, we performed a combination of field observations and experiments with live and model predators on a habituated population of Mongooses. Social context affected both the communicative and the flight behaviour of Yellow Mongooses. Alarm vocalizations were used almost exclusively when individuals were in a group rather than solitary. The visual alarm signal, a raised tail, was predominantly used by solitary individuals when predators were outside attack range. This study apparently is the first to show an audience effect in a facultatively social mammal, suggesting that even rare social interactions lead to the ability to respond flexibly to predators depending on the presence or absence of conspecifics.
Aliza Le Roux - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Vocal Complexity in Meerkats and Other Mongoose Species
Advances in the Study of Behavior, 2014Co-Authors: Marta B. Manser, David A. W. A. M. Jansen, Beke Graw, Linda I. Hollén, Christophe A. H. Bousquet, Roman D. Furrer, Aliza Le RouxAbstract:Complex societies are suggested to generate complex communication. However, tests of this hypothesis rarely go beyond a superficial examination of social and communicative complexity. For a systematic approach, we first have to define what we mean by complexity. What defines social complexity, and what defines communicative complexity? What aspects of social complexity correlate with what aspects of communicative complexity? We reviewed the hypotheses put forward for the evolution of the diverse vocal communicative repertoires and variation within meerkats and four other Mongoose species. The obligate group living species, meerkats, dwarf Mongoose, and banded Mongoose, in comparison to the solitary slender Mongoose and the facultative social Yellow Mongoose show a wider variation in signal use. However, group size within the social Mongoose species does not correlate to vocal repertoire size and is rather explained by differences in their social organization and also by the ecology of the species. For example, meerkats and dwarf Mongoose seem to have evolved vocal systems based on many discrete call types, while banded Mongoose show a more graded system with fewer call types, though the amount of information conveyed to receivers may be the same in both cases. The comparison of vocal complexity in the different Mongoose species emphasizes the importance of identifying correlations of communicative variation with specific social contexts and taking the ecology of a species into account. Ultimately, the function of signals has to be considered from both the producer and receiver side, and in the natural habitat of a species, if we are ever to understand what explains the variation, complexity, as well as potential limitations in animal communication.
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Vigilance behaviour and fitness consequences: comparing a solitary foraging and an obligate group-foraging mammal
Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology, 2009Co-Authors: Aliza Le Roux, Michael I. Cherry, Lorenz Gygax, Marta B. ManserAbstract:Vigilance behaviour in gregarious species has been studied extensively, especially the relationship between individual vigilance and group size, which is often negative. Relatively little is known about the effect of conspecifics on vigilance in non-obligate social species or the influence of sociality itself on antipredator tactics. We investigated predator avoidance behaviour in the Yellow Mongoose, Cynictis penicillata , a group-living solitary forager, and compared it with a sympatric group-living, group-foraging herpestid, the meerkat, Suricata suricatta . In Yellow Mongooses, the presence of conspecifics during foraging—an infrequent occurrence—reduced their foraging time and success and increased individual vigilance, contrary to the classical group-size effect. Comparing the two herpestids, sociality did not appear to affect overt vigilance or survival rates but influenced general patterns of predator avoidance. Whereas meerkats relied on communal vigilance, costly vigilance postures, and auditory warnings against danger, Yellow Mongooses avoided predator detection by remaining close to safe refuges and increasing “low-cost” vigilance, which did not interfere with foraging. We suggest that foraging group size in herpestids is constrained by species-distinct vigilance patterns, in addition to habitat and prey preference.
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The vocal repertoire in a solitary foraging carnivore, Cynictis penicillata, may reflect facultative sociality
Naturwissenschaften, 2009Co-Authors: Aliza Le Roux, Michael I. Cherry, Marta B. ManserAbstract:We describe the vocal repertoire of a facultatively social carnivore, the Yellow Mongoose, Cynictis penicillata . Using a combination of close-range observations, recordings and experiments with simulated predators, we were able to obtain clear descriptions of call structure and function for a wide range of calls used by this herpestid. The vocal repertoire of the Yellow Mongooses comprised ten call types, half of which were used in appeasing or fearful contexts and half in aggressive interactions. Data from this study suggest that the Yellow Mongoose uses an urgency-based alarm calling system, indicating high and low urgency through two distinct call types. Compared to solitary Mongooses, the Yellow Mongoose has a large proportion of ‘friendly’ vocalisations that enhance group cohesion, but its vocal repertoire is smaller and less context-specific than those of obligate social species. This study of the vocal repertoire of the Yellow Mongoose is, to our knowledge, the most complete to have been conducted on a facultatively social species in its natural habitat.
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The audience effect in a facultatively social mammal, the Yellow Mongoose, Cynictis penicillata
Animal Behaviour, 2008Co-Authors: Aliza Le Roux, Michael I. Cherry, Marta B. ManserAbstract:The audience effect has been shown in numerous group-living vertebrates but whether it is present in facultatively social species is unknown. We investigated the antipredator responses of the Yellow Mongoose, a mammal that dens in groups but primarily forages alone. To examine the effect that the social environment has on their communication, we performed a combination of field observations and experiments with live and model predators on a habituated population of Mongooses. Social context affected both the communicative and the flight behaviour of Yellow Mongooses. Alarm vocalizations were used almost exclusively when individuals were in a group rather than solitary. The visual alarm signal, a raised tail, was predominantly used by solitary individuals when predators were outside attack range. This study apparently is the first to show an audience effect in a facultatively social mammal, suggesting that even rare social interactions lead to the ability to respond flexibly to predators depending on the presence or absence of conspecifics.
Michael I. Cherry - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Vigilance behaviour and fitness consequences: comparing a solitary foraging and an obligate group-foraging mammal
Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology, 2009Co-Authors: Aliza Le Roux, Michael I. Cherry, Lorenz Gygax, Marta B. ManserAbstract:Vigilance behaviour in gregarious species has been studied extensively, especially the relationship between individual vigilance and group size, which is often negative. Relatively little is known about the effect of conspecifics on vigilance in non-obligate social species or the influence of sociality itself on antipredator tactics. We investigated predator avoidance behaviour in the Yellow Mongoose, Cynictis penicillata , a group-living solitary forager, and compared it with a sympatric group-living, group-foraging herpestid, the meerkat, Suricata suricatta . In Yellow Mongooses, the presence of conspecifics during foraging—an infrequent occurrence—reduced their foraging time and success and increased individual vigilance, contrary to the classical group-size effect. Comparing the two herpestids, sociality did not appear to affect overt vigilance or survival rates but influenced general patterns of predator avoidance. Whereas meerkats relied on communal vigilance, costly vigilance postures, and auditory warnings against danger, Yellow Mongooses avoided predator detection by remaining close to safe refuges and increasing “low-cost” vigilance, which did not interfere with foraging. We suggest that foraging group size in herpestids is constrained by species-distinct vigilance patterns, in addition to habitat and prey preference.
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The vocal repertoire in a solitary foraging carnivore, Cynictis penicillata, may reflect facultative sociality
Naturwissenschaften, 2009Co-Authors: Aliza Le Roux, Michael I. Cherry, Marta B. ManserAbstract:We describe the vocal repertoire of a facultatively social carnivore, the Yellow Mongoose, Cynictis penicillata . Using a combination of close-range observations, recordings and experiments with simulated predators, we were able to obtain clear descriptions of call structure and function for a wide range of calls used by this herpestid. The vocal repertoire of the Yellow Mongooses comprised ten call types, half of which were used in appeasing or fearful contexts and half in aggressive interactions. Data from this study suggest that the Yellow Mongoose uses an urgency-based alarm calling system, indicating high and low urgency through two distinct call types. Compared to solitary Mongooses, the Yellow Mongoose has a large proportion of ‘friendly’ vocalisations that enhance group cohesion, but its vocal repertoire is smaller and less context-specific than those of obligate social species. This study of the vocal repertoire of the Yellow Mongoose is, to our knowledge, the most complete to have been conducted on a facultatively social species in its natural habitat.
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Genetic structure, relatedness and helping behaviour in the Yellow Mongoose in a farmland and a natural habitat
Journal of Zoology, 2009Co-Authors: T. N. C. Vidya, Z. Balmforth, A. Le Roux, Michael I. CherryAbstract:The Yellow Mongoose Cynictis penicillata is a facultatively social species and provides an opportunity to study the evolution of social behaviour. We examined genetic structure, relatedness and helping behaviour in the Yellow Mongoose in natural habitat in the Kalahari Desert, where the species lives in small family groups of up to four individuals and shows no cooperative breeding; and in farmland in the Western Cape Province of South Africa, where they live in larger groups of up to 13 individuals, engage in numerous social interactions and show cooperative breeding. The farmland population showed significant inbreeding, and lower genetic variability than the desert population, but there was no evidence of a recent population bottleneck. The genetic relatedness between individuals within social groups and that between future potential helpers and pups were higher in the farmland population than in the desert population. However, based on a limited sample, helping effort (in the farmland population) was not preferentially directed towards kin. Thus, the origin of helping in the farmland population is consistent with kin selection, but in the absence of kin discrimination, future research should investigate whether long-term breeding opportunities or group augmentation contribute to maintaining cooperative breeding in this population.
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The effects of population density and sociality on scent marking in the Yellow Mongoose
Journal of Zoology, 2008Co-Authors: A. Le Roux, Michael I. Cherry, Marta B. ManserAbstract:We investigated scent marking behaviour in the Yellow Mongoose Cynictis penicillata, focusing on a low-density population where all offspring dispersed upon reaching sexual maturity. Dominant males appeared to be the main territory defenders and demarcators, with offspring foraging and marking only near the territory cores. The cheek-marking rates of dominant males increased during the breeding season and may have been involved in olfactory mate guarding. We compared our low-density population with a high-density population displaying natal philopatry. The two populations differed markedly in terms of individual contributions to territorial marking, as subordinate group members in the low-density population performed almost no territorial marking or defence, but were the primary scent-markers and territory defenders in the high-density population. We discuss scent-marking distinctions between populations in the context of ecological and social differences.
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The audience effect in a facultatively social mammal, the Yellow Mongoose, Cynictis penicillata
Animal Behaviour, 2008Co-Authors: Aliza Le Roux, Michael I. Cherry, Marta B. ManserAbstract:The audience effect has been shown in numerous group-living vertebrates but whether it is present in facultatively social species is unknown. We investigated the antipredator responses of the Yellow Mongoose, a mammal that dens in groups but primarily forages alone. To examine the effect that the social environment has on their communication, we performed a combination of field observations and experiments with live and model predators on a habituated population of Mongooses. Social context affected both the communicative and the flight behaviour of Yellow Mongooses. Alarm vocalizations were used almost exclusively when individuals were in a group rather than solitary. The visual alarm signal, a raised tail, was predominantly used by solitary individuals when predators were outside attack range. This study apparently is the first to show an audience effect in a facultatively social mammal, suggesting that even rare social interactions lead to the ability to respond flexibly to predators depending on the presence or absence of conspecifics.