Observations on the social behaviour of the Chinese hamster, Cricetulus griseus

1976 ◽  
Vol 54 (3) ◽  
pp. 361-368 ◽  
Author(s):  
Margaret H. Skirrow ◽  
Milada Ryšan
Keyword(s):  
Social Behaviour ◽  
Chinese Hamster ◽  
Cricetulus Griseus ◽  
Experimental Conditions ◽  
Nest Sites ◽  
Food Caching ◽  
Site Familiarity ◽  
The Social ◽  
Individual Distance ◽  
Sexual Identification

Social behaviour between individuals and between mixed-sex pairs of Cricetulus griseus was observed in large floor pens. The species exhibited strong intolerance of conspecifics. Females were highly aggressive and dominant over males. Their presence seemed to inhibit aggression between males. Marking appeared to be positively correlated with dominance in females, and may have served for sexual identification in mixed-sex encounters. The site familiarity imposed by the experimental conditions had no effect on the outcome of encounters. Areas of exclusive occupancy were not recognized and defended, although the animals did show respect for nest sites. Aggressive behaviour was normally elicited by violation of an individual distance of about 15 cm.The absence of contact-promoting behaviour and preliminary warnings to attacks suggests a solitary, dispersed existence of C. griseus. The characteristics of a solitary species, such as a burrowing pattern of life, food caching, and a brief period of pair formation, are discussed in relation to earlier studies on the social organization of rodents.

Social-Behavior and Colony Formation in a Population of Crested Terns, Sterna-Bergii, in Southwestern Australia

1987 ◽  
Vol 14 (4) ◽  
pp. 529 ◽  
Author(s):  
JN Dunlop
Keyword(s):  
Social Behavior ◽  
Breeding Season ◽  
Small Groups ◽  
Social Behaviour ◽  
Colony Formation ◽  
Late Summer ◽  
Breeding Population ◽  
Southwestern Australia ◽  
Nest Sites ◽  
The Social

In a breeding population of crested terns near Fremantle, W.A., social behaviour involved complex patterns of social displays and paired behaviour. The social phase was probably truncated over much of the extended breeding season by the presence of incubating conspecifics, and may serve to synchronise laying in their absence. The responses of pre-laying crested terns to incubating conspecifics were studied by means of artificial 'colonies' of polyurethane models. These proved to be most attractive to prebreeding pairs searching for nest sites, and the earliest eggs were invariably laid among the decoys. Pre-breeding terns in the social phase were not attracted to the decoys. It is suggested that loose groups of incubating conspecifics acted as a key stimulus, releasing settlement and laying in birds in an advanced state of reproductive readiness. This key stimulus could change the learned location of colonies but during late summer and early autumn other factors, probably related to food availability, controlled the onset of laying. Small, spatially distinct, nesting groups were less synchronous in their laying than larger colonies. Such small groups are thought to result from discontinuities in reproductive phase between groups of terns, which are not apparent when the number of pre-laying birds is large.

scholarly journals The Role of TRPA1 Channels in the Central Processing of Odours Contributing to the Behavioural Responses of Mice

2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (12) ◽  
pp. 1336
Author(s):  
János Konkoly ◽  
Viktória Kormos ◽  
Balázs Gaszner ◽  
Zoltán Sándor ◽  
Angéla Kecskés ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Social Behaviour ◽  
Transient Receptor Potential ◽  
In Situ Hybridisation ◽  
Chinese Hamster ◽  
Ovary Cell ◽  
Central Processing ◽  
Olfactory Tract ◽  
The Social

Transient receptor potential ankyrin 1 (TRPA1), a nonselective cation channel, contributes to several (patho)physiological processes. Smell loss is an early sign in several neurodegenerative disorders, such as multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s diseases; therefore, we focused on its role in olfaction and social behaviour with the aim to reveal its potential therapeutic use. The presence of Trpa1 mRNA was studied along the olfactory tract of mice by combined RNAscope in situ hybridisation and immunohistochemistry. The aversive effects of fox and cat odour were examined in parallel with stress hormone levels. In vitro calcium imaging was applied to test if these substances can directly activate TRPA1 receptors. The role of TRPA1 in social behaviour was investigated by comparing Trpa1 wild-type and knockout mice (KO). Trpa1 mRNA was detected in the olfactory bulb and piriform cortex, while its expression was weak in the olfactory epithelium. Fox, but not cat odour directly activated TRPA1 channels in TRPA1-overexpressing Chinese Hamster Ovary cell lines. Accordingly, KO animals showed less aversion against fox, but not cat odour. The social interest of KO mice was reduced during social habituation–dishabituation and social interaction, but not during resident–intruder tests. TRPA1 may contribute to odour processing at several points of the olfactory tract and may play an important role in shaping the social behaviour of mice. Thus, TRPA1 may influence the development of certain social disorders, serving as a potential drug target in the future.

Social ethology of the wolverine

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeffrey P. Copeland ◽  
Arild Landa ◽  
Kimberly Heinemeyer ◽  
Keith B. Aubry ◽  
Jiska van Dijk ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Social Organization ◽  
Social Interactions ◽  
Resource Availability ◽  
Social Behaviour ◽  
Social System ◽  
Group Living ◽  
Field Studies ◽  
Ecological Framework ◽  
The Social ◽  
Living Species

Social behaviour in solitary carnivores has long been an active area of investigation but for many species remains largely founded in conjecture compared to our understanding of sociality in group-living species. The social organization of the wolverine has, until now, received little attention beyond its portrayal as a typical mustelid social system. In this chapter the authors compile observations of social interactions from multiple wolverine field studies, which are integrated into an ecological framework. An ethological model for the wolverine is proposed that reveals an intricate social organization, which is driven by variable resource availability within extremely large territories and supports social behaviour that underpins offspring development.

Social Evolution, Hamilton’s Rule, and Inclusive Fitness

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Samir Okasha
Keyword(s):  
Social Behaviour ◽  
Social Evolution ◽  
Inclusive Fitness ◽  
Popular Approach ◽  
Hamilton’S Rule ◽  
Inclusive Fitness Theory ◽  
The Social ◽  
Social Encounters ◽  
The Individual ◽  
Hamilton's Rule

Inclusive fitness theory, originally due to W. D. Hamilton, is a popular approach to the study of social evolution, but shrouded in controversy. The theory contains two distinct aspects: Hamilton’s rule (rB > C); and the idea that individuals will behave as if trying to maximize their inclusive fitness in social encounters. These two aspects of the theory are logically separable but often run together. A generalized version of Hamilton’s rule can be formulated that is always true, though whether it is causally meaningful is debatable. However, the individual maximization claim only holds true if the payoffs from the social encounter are additive. The notion that inclusive fitness is the ‘goal’ of individuals’ social behaviour is less robust than some of its advocates acknowledge.

L'identité Wallonne saisie par l'enquête : Une approche constructiviste de l'identité collective

Res Publica ◽  
1994 ◽  
Vol 36 (3-4) ◽  
pp. 343-359
Author(s):  
Marc Jacquemain ◽  
René Doutrelepont ◽  
Michel Vandekeere
Keyword(s):  
Social Identity ◽  
Survey Research ◽  
Social Identity Theory ◽  
Social Behaviour ◽  
Identity Theory ◽  
Social Identities ◽  
The Social ◽  
The Individual ◽  
Social Level

At first view, the methodology of survey research may seem rather unsuitable to the study of such "holistic" phenomena as collective and social identities.  That difficulty vanishes - at least partly - as soon as we consider social identity as the link between the individual and his belongings, as does the "social identity theory", developed from the work of Taffel and Turner.  From there on, survey research may prove to be a useful device to cope with some main characteristics of social identity: mainly its variability among groups and classes within a same society and its particular sensitivity to socio-political contexts.  Survey research, combined with the social identity theory may help to test historical assumptions at a macro-social level. It may also give some ''flesh" and some additional realism to the micro-theories of social behaviour, which are too often limited by their conception of a strictly rational and interested agent.

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