Spatial dynamics,social norms,and the opportunity of the commons

The most important message of Levin (Ecol Res 21:328–333, 2006) is that “Ecologists and economists have much incentive for interaction.” Recent studies that account for evolutionary processes and local interactions support this view by obtaining results that run counter to conventional wisdom within resource economics. A second major message of the article is that to meet environmental challenges, humanity must develop social norms that enhance cooperative responses. Successful examples of resource management systems back up norms with economic incentives: rewards for good behavior and punishments for bad. Economic incentives are especially important if rapid and large changes in human behavior are desired.     

Nutritional state influences shoaling preference for familiars

Preferences for grouping with familiar individuals are shown in many animal species, including the three-spined stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus). Shoaling with familiars is advantageous because of more precise anti-predator behaviours or more stable dominance hierarchies. Additionally, associations with familiar individuals facilitate the evolution of altruistic behaviour. Thus, in situations of increased competition one might expect an increased preference for familiar fish. We gave single juvenile sticklebacks of different nutritional state the choice between shoals composed either of familiar or unfamiliar individuals. Satiated fish preferred to shoal with familiar individuals. A comparative analysis of 8 stickleback studies with 15 different tests using familiars showed that all tests gave similar results, i.e. sticklebacks of all age classes preferred to shoal with familiars in a non-sexual context. In contrast, hungry test fish did not prefer to shoal with familiar fish, but even showed a preference for the unfamiliar group. Because sticklebacks use early-life familiarity to recognize kin, the results suggest the avoidance of competition with relatives. To our knowledge, this is the first study showing an impact of nutritional state on social interactions with familiar individuals.     

Predicting spacing behavior and mating systems of solitary cervids: a study of hog deer and Indian muntjac

This study investigates the validity of current theory for predicting ecological and allometric effects on space use, social structure and mating systems of poorly known solitary cervids, based on a comparative analysis of radio-telemetry data on hog deer Axis porcinus (N=32) and Indian muntjac Muntiacus muntjak (N=28). The larger and sexually size-dimorphic hog deer inhabit highly productive alluvial floodplains, where resource distribution is patchy and spatiotemporally unpredictable. As predicted for this species, site fidelity was low and range sizes varied among sex and age groups and among seasons. Hog deer were probably non-territorial, as home range sizes seemed too large to be exclusive when taking into account their high population density. Extensive movements of adult males during the rut implied "roaming" as a mating strategy. The smaller, forest-dwelling and sexually size-monomorphic muntjacs inhabit a more uniform and stable habitat. As predicted, muntjacs exhibited higher site fidelity than hog deer, and no seasonal variations in home range sizes. Adults exhibited relatively large home range overlap, both inter- and intrasexually. Hence, strict territoriality did not occur, but their well-defined home ranges and high site fidelity indicated some form of site-specific dominance. In conclusion, habitat characteristics were appropriate predictors of home range sizes and site fidelity. Body mass appeared to be a suitable predictor of intraspecific patterns in space use but a poor predictor of interspecific patterns, probably due to a confounding effect of habitat productivity.     

不同地位克氏原螯虾对社会环境改变的行为反应

为探究不同社会地位的亚成体克氏原螯虾(Procambarus clarkii)对利益的分配,以及对社会环境改变(体型较大的入侵同类)各自做出的行为反应,本文统计已确立等级序列的成对同性别螯虾对隐蔽所的占有情况,并视频拍摄同性别螯虾入侵时,入侵者及不同地位的原居者的格斗行为,分析格斗次数、格斗时间、首次攻击及被首次攻击对象多个参数。在隐蔽所占有实验中,71%为优势者占有隐蔽所,7%为从属者占有,共同占有或没有占有的各11%。在入侵-反入侵实验中,雄性入侵者对2只原居虾之间的攻击选择无显著差异,雌性入侵者首次攻击显著选择与原优势者格斗;雄性原居者中优势者对入侵者和原从属者的攻击无显著差异,雌性优势者则显著选择与入侵者格斗;雄性原居者中从属者显著选择与入侵者格斗,雌性从属者对入侵者和原优势者的攻击无显著差异。上述结果表明,优势者优先占有资源;雌雄螯虾在入侵和面临入侵时有各自不同的策略;不同地位的螯虾在反入侵时行为反应也各有不同。     

Sex differences in morphine-induced behavioral sensitization and social behaviors in ICR mice

Gender and genetic strain are two prominent variants that influence drug abuse. Although certain sexrelated behavioral responses have been previously characterized in ICR mice, little is known about the effects of sex on morphine-induced behavioral responses in this outbred strain. Therefore, in this study, we investigated the sex differences of morphine-induced locomotion, anxiety-like and social behaviors in ICR mice. After morphine or saline exposure for four consecutive days(twice daily), increased locomotion, more time spent in the central area, as well as attenuated rearing and self-grooming behaviors were found in morphine-treated females in an open field; no differences were found in locomotion and the time spent in the central area between male and female controls. When interacting with the samesex individuals, female controls were engaged in more social investigation, following, body contacting and self-grooming behaviors than controls; morphine exposure reduced contacting and self-grooming behaviors in females; in contrast, these effects were not found in males. These results indicate that female ICR mice are more prosocial and are more susceptible to morphine exposure than males.     

Multisensory signals trigger approach behaviour in the fire-bellied toad Bombina orientalis: sex differences and call specificity

Animal communication often involves multimodal signals, and interactions between sensory modalities can trigger unique responses in receivers. Response to social signals was investigated in fire-bellied toads by exposing them to playback of male calls (advertisement and release calls) and a video clip of a male conspecific in the laboratory. The cues were presented in isolation and as a combined bimodal stimulus, and approach frequency, latency to approach and time spent around the stimulus source were measured. No positive phonotaxis was observed toward the advertisement call, both during the day and during a phonotaxis trial performed at night. However, females, but not males, approached with greater frequency, lower latency, and spent more time near the source of the bimodal stimulus in an experiment involving the advertisement call. Female response was specific to the advertisement call, as approach was not increased when the release call was used. Males, on the other hand, did not show increased approach in the advertisement call experiment, but approached with greater frequency the bimodal stimulus involving the release call within the first minute of stimulus presentation. The findings suggest that females orient toward calling males and that males eavesdrop on release calls, but in both cases a visual stimulus is also needed to trigger a response. Social approach in Bombina orientalis is thus dependent on multisensory cues, and the nature of the interaction between sensory modalities depends on receiver sex and call type.     

Wealth, status, and fitness: a historical study of Norwegians in variable environments

Wealth and status covary with lifetime reproductive success in preindustrial human populations. Local ecology is likely to modify this association, but details of this presumed relationship are not yet known. We sought to determine whether local ecology modifies the relationship between status and fitness (number of grandchildren). Our approach to the problem was to measure variation in fitness relative to status (landless or with land) and to local ecology (inland versus coastal communities). We also analyzed life history traits that might explain observed variations in fitness. Our results confirm previous findings that both status (landless=9.9 vs. with land=16.5) and ecology (inland=12.3 vs. coast=14.1) affect the number of grandchildren produced by a female in pre-industrial society. We also found that the differences in number of children between the status groups were less pronounced on the coast (landless=12.0 vs. with land=16.1) than inland (landless=7.8 vs. with land=16.8). Our findings are novel because they suggest that the fitness consequences of human status may depend on details of local ecology. We discuss four different mechanisms that could account for these fitness differences: (1) differential reproductive rate of mothers, (2) differential marriage rate of children (3) differential survival rate of children, and (4) different social practices (breastfeeding, inheritance of property and diet).     

团体咨询改善小学生社会技能的实验研究

目的:通过实验研究表明团体咨询对改善小学生社会技能方面有重要作用。方法:某小学四年级一个班作为实验组,共41人(其中男生23人,女生18人)。采用前后测设计。对实验组进行十二次团体心理咨询,采用社会技能等级评定表进行前后测,以前后测结果的对照及受欢迎程度的改变值和喜欢他人程度的改变值作为效果指标。结果:在受欢迎程度上,前后测得分在受欢迎组、被拒绝组、低接纳组和女生中差异显著,被拒绝组学生团体咨询效果要优于受欢迎组的;在喜欢他人程度的改变上,低接纳组学生的团体咨询效果要优于高接纳组的;在受欢迎程度的改变上,女生的团体咨询效果要优于男生。结论:团体心理咨询对小学生社会技能的干预有效;采取班级团体心理咨询的方式,团体咨询的效果在人际关系不良的学生及女生中表现得更为明显。     

Significance of the social relationships of Efe Pygmy men in the Ituri forest,Zaire

Efe Pygmies in northeast Zaire exhibit features of social organization (small group size, flexible but predominantly patrilocal residence, close relations with kin, and pair bonds) that are common to many hunting and gathering societies. This study uses methods commonly employed in studies of nonhuman primates to investigate the associations of Efe men with other individuals as a function of their age, sex, and kinship, and it tests the hypothesis that Efe are patrilocal because hunting efficiency is improved by hunting with male relatives. The analyses of 376 hours of focal behavior observations on 16 Efe men and observations of 71 cooperative group hunts show that the majority of associations between Efe men were with other adult men. Men associated preferentially with kin over nonkin, and they associated with close kin more than with distant kin. Men's close relationships (what we call “Companionships” sensu Smuts' “Friendships” in baboons) were predominantly with other adult men, but each man who cohabited with a woman had his strongest Companionship by far with that woman. Neither the efficiency of hunts nor the hunting success of individual men were found to be related to the degree of relatedness of hunters nor the proportion of relatives on the hunt. Alternative hypotheses concerning the functional significance of patrilocality and male kin groups are considered. We conclude that strong affiliative bonds between male kin and between males and females may arise as much from the need for strong allies in the face of competitive social situations as from economic or ecological necessity.