The determinants of dominance relationships among subordinate females in the cooperatively breeding meerkat

dc.contributor.authorThavarajah, Natan K.
dc.contributor.authorFenkes, M.
dc.contributor.authorClutton-Brock, Tim H.
dc.date.accessioned2015-05-20T12:03:16Z
dc.date.available2015-05-20T12:03:16Z
dc.date.issued2014-01
dc.description.abstractIn cooperatively breeding species with high reproductive skew, a single breeding female is dominant to all other group members, but it is not yet known if there are consistent dominance relationships among subordinates. In this study on meerkats (Suricata suricatta), we used naturally observed dominance assertions and submissive interactions within dyads of subordinate females to investigate: (i) whether or not a dominance structure exists among them and what factors influence dominance relationships; and (ii) how dominance may influence the future reproductive success of subordinate females. Our study indicates that superiority in age and weight provide a competitive advantage during conflicts among subordinate females and that females who consistently dominate in these contests are subsequently more likely to attain a dominant breeding position. This provides a starting point for further investigations into dominance structure among subordinates in meerkat societies and other cooperative breeders.en_ZA
dc.description.librarianhb2015en_ZA
dc.description.urihttp://booksandjournals.brillonline.com/content/journals/1568539xen_ZA
dc.identifier.citationThavarajah, NK, Fenkes, M & Clutton_Brock, TH 2014, 'The determinants of dominance relationships among subordinate females in the cooperatively breeding meerkat', Behaviour, vol. 151, no. 1, pp. 89-102.en_ZA
dc.identifier.issn0005-7959 (print)
dc.identifier.issn1568-539X (online)
dc.identifier.other10.1163/1568539X-00003124
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/2263/45205
dc.language.isoenen_ZA
dc.publisherBrill Academic Publishersen_ZA
dc.rights© 2014 Koninklijke Brill NVen_ZA
dc.subjectIndividual attributesen_ZA
dc.subjectSocial hierarchyen_ZA
dc.subjectDyadic dominance relationshipsen_ZA
dc.titleThe determinants of dominance relationships among subordinate females in the cooperatively breeding meerkaten_ZA
dc.typePostprint Articleen_ZA

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