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Cited by 68Animal Behavior and ReproductionPrimate Behavior and EcologyInsect and Arachnid Ecology and Behavior

Instability Rules Social Groups in the Communal Breeder Rodent Octodon degus

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Ebensperger, Luis A., Chesh, Adrian S., Castro, Rodrigo A., Tolhuysen, Liliana Ortiz, Quirici, Verónica, Burger, Joseph Robert, Hayes, Loren D.·2009·Ethology
DOI 10.1111/j.1439-0310.2009.01635.x
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Abstract

Abstract It has been hypothesized that animal groups in socially cohesive species are inherently unstable, ultimately the result of constraints to independent breeding, and proximately the product of adult fidelity and offspring philopatry. Other processes, including emigration of individuals that join pre‐existing groups would be less important. We examined the persistence and variation in the composition of members of social groups inOctodon degus, a communal breeding rodent in which limitations to independent breeding are less obvious. This analysis was conducted during subsequent years, as well as during different seasons within years. Similar to social species in which constraints to independent breeding influence sociality, groups in degus were unstable in that they were short lived and ruled by an extensive turnover of group members across years. A relatively high turnover of group members was also recorded within years. Variation in the composition of groups was caused mostly by disappearance (presumably mortality) and immigration of adult members. Adult fidelity and offspring philopatry and dispersal played secondary roles in affecting the composition of social groups between and within years. Future studies should reexamine the importance of habitat limitations and its proximate determinant, natal philopatry, in driving the stability of social groups.

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Crossref · 10.1111/j.1439-0310.2009.01635.x

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  • Amongst rodent species, puberty overlaps with a play period, but late puberty is also a time of intense competition, as many individuals are eventually evicted or emigrate from the colony or living group (especially males).

    “Amongst rodent species, puberty overlaps with a play period [21, 181], but late puberty is also a time of intense competition [21], as many individuals are eventually evicted or emigrate from the colony or living group (especially males, [53]).”

    From The neuroendocrine control of the circadian system: Adolescent chronotype (2012) · cites this paper as [53]

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Authors
Ebensperger, L. A., Chesh, A. S., Castro, R. A., Tolhuysen, L. O., Quirici, V., Burger, J. R., & Hayes, L. D.
Affiliations
  • Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile (CL)
  • University of Louisiana at Monroe (US)
Corresponding author
Ebensperger, Luis A.
ORCID
Venue
Ethology
Publisher
Wiley
Published
2009-05-11
Volume
115
Issue
6
Pages
540-554
ISSN
  • 0179-1613 (ISSN-L)
  • 1439-0310
DOI
10.1111/j.1439-0310.2009.01635.x
OpenAlex
W2159347880
Cited by
68
References
91
Citations by year
2026: 1 · 2025: 5 · 2023: 2 · 2022: 3 · 2021: 9 · 2020: 1 · 2019: 3 · 2018: 2 · 2017: 4 · 2016: 13 · 2015: 3 · 2014: 2 · 2013: 5 · 2012: 1
FWCI
5.34
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • Ethology (publishedVersion)
  • Americanae (AECID Library) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
  • Americanae (AECID Library) (submittedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
  • LA Referencia (Red Federada de Repositorios Institucionales de Publicaciones Científicas) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
  • LA Referencia (Red Federada de Repositorios Institucionales de Publicaciones Científicas) (submittedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics › Animal Behavior and Reproduction
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Primate Behavior and Ecology
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Genetics › Insect and Arachnid Ecology and Behavior
Keywords
Octodon degus, group composition, communal breeding, sociality, natal philopatry, dispersal, immigration, mortality, habitat limitation, rodent social behavior

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