About the Cover

Abstract

Next article FreeAbout the CoverPDFPDF PLUSFull Text Add to favoritesDownload CitationTrack CitationsPermissionsReprints Share onFacebookTwitterLinked InRedditEmailQR Code SectionsMoreCoverJuvenile crayfish Procambarus clarkii, like the two pictured on the cover, are highly aggressive animals that establish dominant-subordinate relationships through agonistic interactions. Crayfish have been a prime model for studying dominance hierarchies for several decades, and many of the sensory, neurochemical, physiological, and behavioral mechanisms have been identified. Once dominance relationships are formed between two members of this species, the relationship typically remains stable and aggression is reduced. However, previous research in juvenile P. clarkii found that the brief addition of larger conspecifics (intruders) to pairs with established dominance relationships can disrupt the stability of social dominance in the original pairs by facilitating status reversals after the interaction with the intruders.Building on this study, Herberholz, Swierzbinski, and Birke identified additional conditions that affect the stability of dominance relationships. On pages 152–164 of this issue, they report that larger intruders are necessary to destabilize dominance relationships, while smaller and same-sized intruders are ineffective. This finding suggests that dominance relationships are not destabilized by aggressive interactions with any other conspecific; instead, a larger opponent—None capable of defeating both members of the original pair—is required to produce social rank reversals. The authors also show that simple defeat of the original dominant and subordinate crayfish by a larger intruder is not alone sufficient to disrupt social rank order. Both members of the original pair must be defeated in the presence of each other. This indicates that dominant and subordinate must witness the defeat of their original opponent for subsequent status reversals to occur. Moreover, destabilization of dominance relationships takes place after all chemical cues from prior fights are eliminated, although the effect is more pronounced if such cues are available. Lastly, the authors report that behavioral elements displayed by the dominant and subordinate crayfish during the intruder interaction period predict whether the relationship of the original pair remains stable or not.Together, the results from this work provide new insights into the effects of social and environmental conditions on the stability of dominance relationships, which can inform other studies in this field. Since dominance hierarchies, which result from the inevitable limitations of necessary resources, are a widespread phenomenon observed in social non-human animals as well as in humans, gaining a better understanding of the mechanisms that shape their formation and maintenance is of high relevance.Credits: Photo, Jens Herberholz and Matthew Swierzbinski, University of Maryland; cover design, LianneDunn.com Next article DetailsFiguresReferencesCited by The Biological Bulletin Volume 230, Number 2April 2016 Published in association with the Marine Biological Laboratory Article DOIhttps://doi.org/10.1086/BBLv230n2cover © 2016 by Marine Biological Laboratory. All rights reserved.PDF download Crossref reports no articles citing this article.