Differences in social preference between the sexes during ontogeny drive segregation in a precocial species (article)
Whiteside, MA; van Horik, JO; Langley, EJG; et al.Beardsworth, CE; Laker, PR; Madden, JR
Date: 1 June 2017
Article
Journal
Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology
Publisher
Springer Verlag
Publisher DOI
Abstract
Hypotheses for why animals sexually segregate typically rely
on adult traits, such as differences in sexual roles causing
differential habitat preferences, or size dimorphism inducing
differences in diet or behaviour. However, segregation can
occur in juveniles before such roles or size dimorphism is well
established. In young ...
Hypotheses for why animals sexually segregate typically rely
on adult traits, such as differences in sexual roles causing
differential habitat preferences, or size dimorphism inducing
differences in diet or behaviour. However, segregation can
occur in juveniles before such roles or size dimorphism is well
established. In young humans, leading hypotheses suggest
that (1) sexes differ in their activity and the synchronisation
of behaviour causes segregation and (2) sexes separate in order
to learn and maximise future reproductive roles. We reared
pheasants, Phasianus colchicus, from hatching in the absence
of adults in a controlled environment. Females aggregated
with their own sex from hatching, whereas males initially
exhibited random association, but segregation became pronounced
with age. The increase in segregation corresponded
to an increase in sexual size dimorphism. By standardising
habitat availability and diet and by removing predation risk,
we could disregard the Predation Risk and the Forage
Selection Hypotheses operating at this age. Activity budgets
did not differ between the sexes, providing no support for the
Behavioural Synchrony or the Activity Budget Hypotheses.
Both sexes preferentially approached groups of unfamiliar,
same-sex birds in binary choice tests, providing support for
the Social Preference Hypothesis. Females may segregate to
avoid male aggression. Sexual segregation may become
established early in development, especially in precocial species,
such as pheasants. A clear understanding of ontogenetic
factors is essential to further our understanding of adult assortment
patterns. Assortment by sex may not be inherent, but
rather emerge as a consequence of social interactions early
in life.
Psychology
College of Life and Environmental Sciences
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