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Barbara Class, Kasha Strickland, Dominique Potvin, Nicola Jackson, Shinichi Nakagawa, and Celine Frère: Read the article
Does being more social imply that you have to behave more predictably? If you are a dragon, it depends on your sex! Class et al. found evidence for sex-specific associations between social behaviour, its predictability and fitness in wild Eastern water dragons...
You never know with a Chihuahua. They’re pocket-sized and adorable, yet they might nip at your finger without warning. In contrast, Golden Retrievers are gentle giants who greet everyone warmly, from children to postmen. While we often think of these behaviors as quirks of personality, social behaviors play a crucial role in wild animals living in large groups. In these environments, where interactions are frequent and the potential for conflict is high, traits such as sociability (tolerance of social proximity to neighbors) and behavioral predictability (the consistency in their social behavior) help individuals navigate their social landscapes and minimize tension.
But do these traits go hand in hand? Are more sociable individuals also more predictable in their social behavior? Class and colleagues conducted the first empirical study to examine the relationship between sociability and its predictability using a unique dataset on the Eastern water dragons Intellagama lesueurii, reasoning that greater opportunities for social interactions would promote behavioral predictability, as consistent behavior helps group members anticipate the outcomes of social interactions and reduce conflict.
The study found that females, which occupy smaller, overlapping territories, were more socially tolerant than males, while males, which roam larger, less overlapping territories, were less socially tolerant. However, behavioral predictability, i.e., the consistency of social behavior, did not differ significantly between males and females. Among females, the study found that more sociable individuals also exhibited higher levels of behavioral predictability, supporting the idea that sociability might reinforce predictability. These traits jointly promoted survival, with sociable and predictable females tending to live longer. However, female reproductive success was not linked to sociability or predictability, but rather primarily to survival. In contrast, sociability was crucial for males. Male water dragons that were more sociable not only lived longer but also had higher reproductive success, likely due to increased mating opportunities. Behavioral predictability, however, did not significantly influence male survival or reproduction.
This study reveals, for the first time, the nuanced relationship between sociability and predictability and demonstrates how these behavioral tendencies shape fitness in distinct, sex-specific ways. While predictability might be a liability for owners of Golden Retrievers, who greet everyone warmly, be it grandma at the door or a potential thief, it benefits female water dragons by minimizing social tension and promoting longer lives. For males, whose fitness is mediated by sexual selection, sociability is the winning strategy. As for Chihuahuas and their capricious nips, some might argue their volatile nature is just part of their charm.
What drives the surprising sex differences in sociability and its predictability in Eastern water dragons? What do these findings reveal about animal personality, and how might they reshape our understanding of social behavior variation across species? Dive into the full article to explore these fascinating details.
Pooja Radhakrishnan recently completed her PhD in Ethology at the Laboratoire d'Ethologie Expérimentale et Comparée, Université Sorbonne Paris Nord, where she explored the fascinating world of sex-changing worms. With a Bachelor's Degree in Hotel Management, her late-onset career in science was inspired by a popular science book, which sparked her love for making research more accessible. When she’s not second-guessing every sentence in her manuscript, Pooja enjoys photographing wildlife, taking long bus rides through countryside landscapes, exploring local museums, and of course, French butter.
