L4 Social Dominance

Question 1

When was the concept of dominance first hypothesised?

Answer 1

In 1922 by Schjelderup-Ebbe

Question 2

What species was first used to study dominance?

Answer 2

-Studied agonistic interactions in domestic fowl
-Discovered the Peck Order

Question 3

How are many social groups characterised?

Answer 3

By sustained agonistic relationships between individuals

Question 4

What are two terms for dominance for an animal in social groups?

Answer 4

-Dominance Status
-Dominance Rank

Question 5

What is Drews 1993 definition of dominance?

Answer 5

Dominance is an attribute of the pattern of repeated, agonistic interactions between two individuals, characterised by a consistent outcome in favour of the same dyad member and a default yielding response of its opponent rather than escalation. The status of the consistent winner is dominant and that of the loser subordinate

Question 6

What is dominant status?

Answer 6

-Only applicable in context of the dyad
-Describes two-way relationship within dyads

Question 7

What is a dyad?

Answer 7

A dyad is a group of two things or two people

Question 8

What is dominance rank?

Answer 8

-Only relevant in context of the group
-Group members ordered in a dominance hierarchy based on outcome of all dyadic interactions
-Each individuals’ position in the hierarchy represents their dominance rank relative to all other members of the group

Question 9

How is dominance calculated?

Answer 9

-Can use different techniques
-I&SI Method (de Vries, 1998)
-David’s Score (Gammell et al. 2003)
-Elo-rating method (Albers & de Vries, 2001)

Question 10

When can unambiguous hierarchy exist?

Answer 10

-Every dyad has a definite dominant and subordinate member
-There are no unknown relationships
-All triadic relationships are transitive

Question 11

Describe the I&SI Method (de Vries, 1998) for calculating hierarchies.

Answer 11

-Orders individuals in a linear/near-linear hierarchy

Question 12

Describe David’s score (Gammell, et al 2003) for calculating hierarchies.

Answer 12

-Orders individuals on overall interaction success while taking strength of opponents into account.

Question 13

Describe the Elo-rating Method (Albers & de Vries 2001) for calculating hierarchies.

Answer 13

Estimates and continually updates dominance ranks of individuals as interactions occur.

Question 14

What factors affect dominance ranking?

Answer 14

-Dominance rank is not an absolute characteristic of individuals
-Intrinsic factors affect dominance- Power/potential (RHP), eg. fighting ability
-Extrinsic factors affect dominance-
-Winner and loser effects
-Bystander effects

Question 15

What is the loser effect?

Answer 15

-Tendency of an individual, having lost a contest, to lose subsequent contests

Question 16

What is the winner effect?

Answer 16

-Tendency of an individual, having won a contest, to win subsequent contests

Question 17

What does RHP stand for?

Answer 17

Resource holding potential

Question 18

What is another name for the bystander effect?

Answer 18

-Also called eavesdropping

Question 19

What is the bystander effect?

Answer 19

When an individual’s assessment of the RHP of another individual changes based on the outcome of a contest that it has observed

Question 20

What are the bystander winner effects?

Answer 20

The bystander raises its estimation of an individual it has just observed win

Question 21

What is the bystander loser effect?

Answer 21

-The bystander lowers its estimation of an individual it has just observed lose

Question 22

What is the tendency for individuals with high dominance ranks?

Answer 22

-Gain greater access to limited resources
-Food
-Mates

Question 23

What species have significance dominance relationships.

Answer 23

-Ungulates
-Carnivores
-Rodents