Individual variation in vigilance in female eastern grey kangaroos
R. J. Dannock A B , S. P. Blomberg A and A. W. Goldizen A
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A School of Biological Sciences, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Qld 4072, Australia.
B Corresponding author. Email: r.dannock@hotmail.com
Australian Journal of Zoology 61(4) 312-319 https://doi.org/10.1071/ZO12122
Submitted: 29 November 2012 Accepted: 12 August 2013 Published: 5 September 2013
Abstract
For herbivores, vigilance usually involves a trade-off with foraging, and a further trade-off between antipredator and social vigilance. Thus individual variation in vigilance may result in significant fitness consequences. We used mixed-effects models to document individual variation in vigilance in wild adult female eastern grey kangaroos (Macropus giganteus) in Queensland, Australia. We tested the effects of group size, presence of adult males and wind on vigilance patterns and variation by analysing 399 five-minute samples on 31 individually identified females who were foraging on the periphery of groups. We determined the proportion of time that individuals spent vigilant, and the proportions of vigilance time spent in social versus antipredator vigilance and in low- versus high-intensity vigilance postures. The proportion of time females spent vigilant decreased with increasing group size but was not affected by wind speed or male presence, while the amount of their vigilance time spent in social vigilance was affected by interactions among the variables. After controlling for these effects, 13 females’ vigilance patterns were significantly different from the population mean. Individual variation was also found in vigilance postures used and the effect of male presence. Understanding individual variation in vigilance is important for understanding individuals’ antipredator and social strategies.
Additional keywords: antipredator behaviour, behavioural variation, group-size effect, social vigilance.
References
Afkhami, M. E., and Strassmann, J. E. (2007). Adult yellow-crowned night-herons face in opposite directions at the nest. Wilson Journal of Ornithology 119, 747–749.Aureli, F., Schaffner, C. M., Boesch, C., Bearder, S. K., Call, J., Chapman, C. A., Connor, R., Di Fiore, A., Dunbar, R. I. M., Peter Henzi, S., Holekamp, K., Korstjens, A. H., Layton, R., Lee, P., Lehmann, J., Manson, J. H., Ramos-Fernandez, G., Strier, K. B., and van Schaik, C. P. (2008). Fission–fusion dynamics: new research frameworks. Current Anthropology 49, 627–654.
| Fission–fusion dynamics: new research frameworks.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Bachman, G. C. (1993). The effect of body condition on the trade-off between vigilance and foraging in Belding’s ground squirrels. Animal Behaviour 46, 233–244.
| The effect of body condition on the trade-off between vigilance and foraging in Belding’s ground squirrels.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Barbosa, A. (2002). Does vigilance always covary negatively with group-size? Effects of foraging strategy. Acta Ethologica 5, 51–55.
| Does vigilance always covary negatively with group-size? Effects of foraging strategy.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Bates, D., Maechler, M., and Bolker, B. (2011). lme4: Linear mixed-effects models using S4 classes. Available at http://cran.r-project.org/web/packages/lme4/index.html
Beauchamp, G. (2003). Group-size effects on vigilance: a search for mechanisms. Behavioural Processes 63, 111–121.
| Group-size effects on vigilance: a search for mechanisms.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 12829305PubMed |
Beauchamp, G. (2009). How does food density influence vigilance in birds and mammals? Animal Behaviour 78, 223–231.
| How does food density influence vigilance in birds and mammals?Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Berger, J. (1978). Group-size, foraging and antipredator ploys – analysis of bighorn sheep decisions. Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology 4, 91–99.
| Group-size, foraging and antipredator ploys – analysis of bighorn sheep decisions.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Bergvall, U. A., Schäpers, A., Kjellander, P., and Weiss, A. (2011). Personality and foraging decisions in fallow deer, Dama dama. Animal Behaviour 81, 101–112.
| Personality and foraging decisions in fallow deer, Dama dama.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Blumstein, D. T., and Daniel, J. C. (2002). Isolation from mammalian predators differentially affects two congeners. Behavioral Ecology 13, 657–663.
| Isolation from mammalian predators differentially affects two congeners.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Blumstein, D. T., Runyan, A., Seymour, M., Nicodemus, A., Ozgul, A., Ransler, F., Im, S., Stark, T., Zugmeyer, C., and Daniel, J. C. (2004). Locomotor ability and wariness in yellow-bellied marmots. Ethology 110, 615–634.
| Locomotor ability and wariness in yellow-bellied marmots.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Blumstein, D. T., Lea, A. J., Olson, L. E., and Martin, J. G. A. (2010). Heritability of anti-predatory traits: vigilance and locomotor performance in marmots. Journal of Evolutionary Biology 23, 879–887.
| Heritability of anti-predatory traits: vigilance and locomotor performance in marmots.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:STN:280:DC%2BC3cvptlSnuw%3D%3D&md5=2b34e0db4ee6a905d6d12d074b6dcf7bCAS | 20298440PubMed |
Brown, J. S. (1999). Vigilance, patch use and habitat selection: foraging under predation risk. Evolutionary Ecology Research 1, 49–71.
Burger, J., and Gochfeld, M. (1994). Vigilance in African mammals: differences among mothers, other females, and males. Behaviour 131, 153–169.
| Vigilance in African mammals: differences among mothers, other females, and males.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Cameron, E. Z., and Du Toit, J. T. (2005). Social influences on vigilance behaviour in giraffes, Giraffa camelopardalis. Animal Behaviour 69, 1337–1344.
| Social influences on vigilance behaviour in giraffes, Giraffa camelopardalis.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Carter, A. J., Pays, O., and Goldizen, A. W. (2009). Individual variation in the relationship between vigilance and group size in eastern grey kangaroos. Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology 64, 237–245.
| Individual variation in the relationship between vigilance and group size in eastern grey kangaroos.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Carter, K., and Goldizen, A. W. (2003). Habitat choice and vigilance behaviour of brush-tailed rock-wallabies (Petrogale penicillata) within their nocturnal foraging ranges. Wildlife Research 30, 355–364.
| Habitat choice and vigilance behaviour of brush-tailed rock-wallabies (Petrogale penicillata) within their nocturnal foraging ranges.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Colagross, A. M. L., and Cockburn, A. (1993). Vigilance and grouping in the eastern grey kangaroo, Macropus giganteus. Australian Journal of Zoology 41, 325–334.
| Vigilance and grouping in the eastern grey kangaroo, Macropus giganteus.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Couchoux, C., and Cresswell, W. (2012). Personality constraints versus flexible antipredation behaviors: how important is boldness in risk management of redshanks (Tringa totanus) foraging in a natural system? Behavioral Ecology 23, 290–301.
| Personality constraints versus flexible antipredation behaviors: how important is boldness in risk management of redshanks (Tringa totanus) foraging in a natural system?Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Darden, S. K., and Croft, D. P. (2008). Male harassment drives females to alter habitat use and leads to segregation of the sexes. Biology Letters 4, 449–451.
| Male harassment drives females to alter habitat use and leads to segregation of the sexes.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 18682356PubMed |
Elgar, M. A. (1989). Predator vigilance and group-size in mammals and birds – a critical review of the empirical evidence. Biological Reviews of the Cambridge Philosophical Society 64, 13–33.
| Predator vigilance and group-size in mammals and birds – a critical review of the empirical evidence.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:STN:280:DyaL1M3kslKltQ%3D%3D&md5=7d050bbf2e2eaad4504c0b562cd90cffCAS | 2655726PubMed |
Ellard, C. G., and Byers, R. D. (2005). The influence of the behaviour of conspecifics on responses to threat in the Mongolian gerbil, Meriones unguiculatus. Animal Behaviour 70, 49–58.
| The influence of the behaviour of conspecifics on responses to threat in the Mongolian gerbil, Meriones unguiculatus.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Fairbanks, B., and Dobson, F. S. (2007). Mechanisms of the group-size effect on vigilance in Columbian ground squirrels: dilution versus detection. Animal Behaviour 73, 115–123.
| Mechanisms of the group-size effect on vigilance in Columbian ground squirrels: dilution versus detection.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Favreau, F., Goldizen, A. W., and Pays, O. (2010). Interactions among social monitoring, anti-predator vigilance and group size in eastern grey kangaroos. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences 277, 2089–2095.
| Interactions among social monitoring, anti-predator vigilance and group size in eastern grey kangaroos.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 20219737PubMed |
Fernandez-Juricic, E., Smith, R., and Kacelnik, A. (2005). Increasing the costs of conspecific scanning in socially foraging starlings affects vigilance and foraging behaviour. Animal Behaviour 69, 73–81.
| Increasing the costs of conspecific scanning in socially foraging starlings affects vigilance and foraging behaviour.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Fitzgibbon, C. D. (1990). Mixed-species grouping in Thomson’s and Grant’s gazelles: the antipredator benefits. Animal Behaviour 39, 1116–1126.
| Mixed-species grouping in Thomson’s and Grant’s gazelles: the antipredator benefits.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Gaynor, K. M., and Cords, M. (2012). Antipredator and social monitoring functions of vigilance behaviour in blue monkeys. Animal Behaviour 84, 531–537.
| Antipredator and social monitoring functions of vigilance behaviour in blue monkeys.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Hilton, G. M., Ruxton, G. D., and Cresswell, W. (1999). Choice of foraging area with respect to predation risk in redshanks: the effects of weather and predator activity. Oikos 87, 295–302.
| Choice of foraging area with respect to predation risk in redshanks: the effects of weather and predator activity.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Hoogland, J. L., Hale, S. L., Kirk, A. D., and Sui, Y. D. (2013). Individual variation in vigilance among the white-tailed prairie dogs (Cynomys leucurus). The Southwestern Naturalist , .
Houston, A. I., McNamara, J. M., and Hutchinson, J. M. C. (1993). General results concerning the tradeoff between gaining energy and avoiding predation. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London B 341, 375–397.
| General results concerning the tradeoff between gaining energy and avoiding predation.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Hunter, L. T. B., and Skinner, J. D. (1998). Vigilance behaviour in African ungulates: the role of predation pressure. Behaviour 135, 195–211.
| Vigilance behaviour in African ungulates: the role of predation pressure.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Jacoby, D. M. P., Busawon, D. S., and Sims, D. W. (2010). Sex and social networking: the influence of male presence on social structure of female shark groups. Behavioral Ecology 21, 808–818.
| Sex and social networking: the influence of male presence on social structure of female shark groups.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Jarman, P. J. (1987). Group-size and activity in eastern grey kangaroos. Animal Behaviour 35, 1044–1050.
| Group-size and activity in eastern grey kangaroos.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Jarman, P. (1991). Social behaviour and organization in the Macropodoidea. In ‘Advances in the Study of Behaviour. Vol. 20’. pp. 1–50. (Academic Press Incoroporated: San Diego, CA.)
Jarman, P. J. (1994). Individual behaviour and social organisation of kangaroos. In ‘Animal Societies – Individuals, Interactions and Organisation’. (Eds P. J. Jarman and A. Rossiter.) pp. 70–85. (Physiology and Ecology: Japan.)
Jarman, P. J., Jones, M. E., Johnson, C. N., Southwell, C. J., Stuartdick, R. I., Higginbottom, K. B., and Clarke, J. L. (1989). Macropod studies at Wallaby Creek. 8. Individual recognition of kangaroos and wallabies. Australian Wildlife Research 16, 179–185.
| Macropod studies at Wallaby Creek. 8. Individual recognition of kangaroos and wallabies.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Kaufmann, J. H. (1975). Field observations of the social behaviour of the eastern grey kangaroo, Macropus giganteus. Animal Behaviour 23, 214–221.
| Field observations of the social behaviour of the eastern grey kangaroo, Macropus giganteus.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Kutsukake, N. (2006). The context and quality of social relationships affect vigilance behaviour in wild chimpanzees. Ethology 112, 581–591.
| The context and quality of social relationships affect vigilance behaviour in wild chimpanzees.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Lazarus, J., and Inglis, I. R. (1978). The breeding behaviour of the pink-footed goose: parental care and vigilant behaviour during the fledging period. Behaviour 65, 62–88.
Manno, T. G. (2007). Why are Utah prairie dogs vigilant? Journal of Mammalogy 88, 555–563.
| Why are Utah prairie dogs vigilant?Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Pangle, W. M., and Holekamp, K. E. (2010). Age-related variation in threat-sensitive behavior exhibited by spotted hyenas: observational and experimental approaches. Behaviour 147, 1009–1033.
| Age-related variation in threat-sensitive behavior exhibited by spotted hyenas: observational and experimental approaches.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Pays, O., and Jarman, P. J. (2008). Does sex affect both individual and collective vigilance in social mammalian herbivores: the case of the eastern grey kangaroo? Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology 62, 757–767.
| Does sex affect both individual and collective vigilance in social mammalian herbivores: the case of the eastern grey kangaroo?Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Poole, W. E., and Catling, P. C. (1974). Reproduction in the two species of grey kangaroos, Macropus giganteus Shaw and M. fuliginosus (Desmarest). I. Sexual maturity and oestrus. Australian Journal of Zoology 22, 277–302.
| Reproduction in the two species of grey kangaroos, Macropus giganteus Shaw and M. fuliginosus (Desmarest). I. Sexual maturity and oestrus.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:STN:280:DyaE2M%2Fptl2jtQ%3D%3D&md5=3e523c62e779b856f277831d7bd734ceCAS | 4475649PubMed |
Poole, W. E., and Pilton, P. E. (1964). Reproduction in the grey kangaroo, Macropus cangaru, in captivity. Wildlife Research 9, 218–234.
| Reproduction in the grey kangaroo, Macropus cangaru, in captivity.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Powell, G. V. N. (1974). Experimental analysis of the social value of flocking by starlings (Sturnus vulgaris) in relation to predation and foraging. Animal Behaviour 22, 501–505.
| Experimental analysis of the social value of flocking by starlings (Sturnus vulgaris) in relation to predation and foraging.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
R Development Core Team (2009). ‘R: A Language and Environment for Statistical Computing.’ (Eds TRDC Team). (Vienna, Austria.)
Réale, D., Reader, S. M., Sol, D., McDougall, P. T., and Dingemanse, N. J. (2007). Integrating animal temperament within ecology and evolution. Biological Reviews of the Cambridge Philosophical Society 82, 291–318.
| Integrating animal temperament within ecology and evolution.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 17437562PubMed |
Reboreda, J. C., and Fernandez, G. J. (1997). Sexual, seasonal and group size differences in the allocation of time between vigilance and feeding in the greater rhea, Rhea americana. Ethology 103, 198–207.
| Sexual, seasonal and group size differences in the allocation of time between vigilance and feeding in the greater rhea, Rhea americana.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Rieucau, G., and Martin, J. G. A. (2008). Many eyes or many ewes: vigilance tactics in female bighorn sheep Ovis canadensis vary according to reproductive status. Oikos 117, 501–506.
| Many eyes or many ewes: vigilance tactics in female bighorn sheep Ovis canadensis vary according to reproductive status.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Rieucau, G., Morand-Ferron, J., and Giraldeau, L. A. (2010). Group size effect in nutmeg mannikin: between-individuals behavioural differences but same plasticity. Behavioral Ecology 21, 684–689.
| Group size effect in nutmeg mannikin: between-individuals behavioural differences but same plasticity.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Roberts, G. (1996). Why individual vigilance declines as group size increases. Animal Behaviour 51, 1077–1086.
| Why individual vigilance declines as group size increases.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Stuart-Dick, R. I. (1987). Parental investment and rearing schedules in the eastern grey kangaroo. Ph.D. Thesis. University of New England, Armidale, NSW.
Valone, T. J., and Templeton, J. J. (2002). Public information for the assessment of quality: a widespread social phenomenon. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological Sciences 357, 1549–1557.
| 12495512PubMed |
Verdolin, J. L. (2006). Meta-analysis of foraging and predation risk trade-offs in terrestrial systems. Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology 60, 457–464.
| Meta-analysis of foraging and predation risk trade-offs in terrestrial systems.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Wilson, D. S., Clark, A. B., Coleman, K., and Dearstyne, T. (1994). Shyness and boldness in humans and other animals. Trends in Ecology & Evolution 9, 442–446.
| Shyness and boldness in humans and other animals.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Yasué, M., Quinn, J. L., and Cresswell, W. (2003). Multiple effects of weather on the starvation and predation risk trade-off in choice of feeding location in redshanks. Functional Ecology 17, 727–736.
| Multiple effects of weather on the starvation and predation risk trade-off in choice of feeding location in redshanks.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
