dc.contributor.author |
Francioli, Yannick
|
|
dc.contributor.author |
Thorley, Jack
|
|
dc.contributor.author |
Finn, Kyle T.
|
|
dc.contributor.author |
Clutton-Brock, Tim H.
|
|
dc.contributor.author |
Zottl, Markus
|
|
dc.date.accessioned |
2021-08-13T11:40:31Z |
|
dc.date.available |
2021-08-13T11:40:31Z |
|
dc.date.issued |
2020-10 |
|
dc.description.abstract |
Eusocial societies are characterized by a clear division of labour between non-breeding workers and breeding queens, and queens often do not contribute to foraging, defence and other maintenance tasks. It has been suggested that the structure and organization of social mole-rat groups resembles that of eusocial insect societies. However, the division of labour has rarely been investigated in wild mole-rats, and it is unknown whether breeders show decreased foraging activity compared with non-breeding helpers in natural groups. Here, we show that, in wild Damaraland mole-rats (Fukomys damarensis), breeders show lower activity in foraging areas than non-breeding group members. Both breeders and non-breeders displayed variation in activity across the different seasons. Our results suggest that group living allows social mole-rat breeders to reduce their investment in energetically costly behaviour, or alternatively, that the high cost of reproduction in this species forces a behavioural trade-off against foraging investment. |
en_ZA |
dc.description.department |
Mammal Research Institute |
en_ZA |
dc.description.department |
Zoology and Entomology |
en_ZA |
dc.description.librarian |
hj2021 |
en_ZA |
dc.description.uri |
https://royalsocietypublishing.org/journal/rsbl |
en_ZA |
dc.identifier.citation |
Francioli, Y., Thorley, J., Finn, K., Clutton-Brock, T., & Zöttl, M. (2020). Breeders are less active foragers than non-breeders in wild Damaraland mole-rats.. Biology letters, 16 (10), 20200475. https://doi.org/10.1098/rsbl.2020.0475. |
en_ZA |
dc.identifier.issn |
1744-957X (online) |
|
dc.identifier.issn |
1744-9561 (print) |
|
dc.identifier.other |
10.1098/rsbl.2020.0475 |
|
dc.identifier.uri |
http://hdl.handle.net/2263/81278 |
|
dc.language.iso |
en |
en_ZA |
dc.publisher |
Royal Society |
en_ZA |
dc.rights |
© The Royal Society 2020 |
en_ZA |
dc.subject |
Animals |
en_ZA |
dc.subject |
Mole rats |
en_ZA |
dc.subject |
Seasons |
en_ZA |
dc.subject |
Reproduction |
en_ZA |
dc.title |
Breeders are less active foragers than non-breeders in wild Damaraland mole-rats |
en_ZA |
dc.type |
Postprint Article |
en_ZA |