Play Fighting Research Articles

Social biology of bushbuck (Tragelaphus scriptus Pallas 1776) in the Nairobi National Park, Kenya

SummaryA study to investigate some aspects of the social biology of bushbuck (Tragelaphus scriptus Pallas 1776) was carried out in a 2.59 km2 study area in the Nairobi National Park, Kenya.Observations throughout 1966 using binoculars and photography identified thirty‐one male and thirty‐three female bushbuck. Together with an estimated fourteen juveniles, the density in the study area was 30.1/km2.Distribution is aggregated with loose family groups concentrating around forest edge areas near to dams or river pools. Home ranges varied from 20 ha for sub‐adult males to 5 ha for adult males and 2.5 ha for females.Bushbuck are predominantly solitary with 53.7% of all sightings being of lone animals; 14% of associations were of an adult female with a single calf and the commonest adult association (8%) was a single male with a single female. There is a strong mother‐young relationship. Very young calves lie in concealment away from the mother during the early days of their lives.Agonistic encounters between males vary in intensity from play fighting in sub‐adults to lateral intimidation display and overt conflict. The presence of a female, assumed to be in oestrous, sometimes stimulates males to intense aggression and at such times, a single male forms and defends a mating association with the female. Territorial defence was not observed.Bushbuck often associate with other species, particularly impala and baboons. They show a negative reaction to tick‐birds which may be one reason for their often having heavy infestations of ticks and flies.Predator avoidance relies largely on crypsis and ‘freezing’ followed by rapid flight through dense vegetation.RésuméUne étude pour approfondir quelques aspects de la biologie sociale du Guib harnaché (Tragelaphus scriptus Pallas 1776) fut entreprise sur une surface de recherche de 2.59 km2 au Parc National de Nairobi, Kenya.Tout au long de 1966, des observations faites aux jumelles et par photographies, ont permis d'identifier 31 mâles et 33 femelles de Guib. Avec une estimation de 14 juvéniles, la densité dans la zone d'étude est de 30.1/km2.

Aggressive and non-aggressive fighting in twelve-to-thirteen year old pre-adolescent boys.

Summary Ethological observations weir made of 34 boys in a secondary school playground, covering all aspects of behaviour, including fighting. Factor analyses were performed on individual samples of behaviour; the two main types of righting were vigorous fighting, usually playful but often causing distress to the victim and playful fighting of low intensity. Fighting of the first type is rare in young boys, and it is suggested that this intermingling of rough play and aggression in older boys exposes aggression to social influences which in younger boys are confined to rough play.

Species and hybrid differences in frequencies of play and agonistic actions in canids.

Developmental changes in the frequency of occurrence of some 23 action patterns were studied in pairs of coyotes, wolves, dogs and their hybrids. Over 4,300 entries were recorded from days 24--42 (85.5 h observations in toto). All subjects showed a decrease in contactual behaviors from 24--30 days, and a subsequent increase in play fighting and chasing. In all species, with the exception of the coyotes, the bite was inhibited and play behavior was recorded from 24 days onwards, but only after the 30th day in the coyotes. Species differences in occurrence and frequency of certain action patterns were evident in the wolves, coyotes and dogs, and these differences were also reflected in their hybrids.

Ethanol, methamphetamine, pentobarbital, morphine, and monkey social behavior.

We find significant dose-response curves for social behaviors after single-dose administration of drugs in five adult male monkeys living in their "home" troop of about 30 animals. Ethanol (0 to 2 ml/kg, gavage) produced ataxia without motor slowing, regressive playful fighting typical of juveniles, and a substantial increase in the ratio of heterosexual to autosexual behaviors. Aggressive dominance behavior was not altered. Pentobarbital sodium (0 to 1 mg/kg, intramuscularly) reduced submission behaviors, increasing the dominance-to-submission ratio. Methamphetamine hydrochloride (0 to 0.5 mg/kg intramuscularly) decreased the dominance-to-submission ratio, while producing hyperactivity, stereotypies, and social unrelatedness. Morphine (0 to 0.4 mg/kg, intramuscularly) blocked sexual behavior without impairing motor activity. The results may help to clarify some controversies arising from conflicting data in studies of drug effects on humans.

Population Changes and Social Behavior Following Colonization by the Yellow-Bellied Marmot

In most years, the population of a colony of yellow-bellied marmots ( Marmota flaviventris ) was fluid because of dispersal of yearlings and addition of young; the adult population remained relatively stable within any year. Recruitment to the adult population occurred solely from animals born in the colony. Total number of young produced was closely correlated with the number of females of reproductive age; the number of young per female decreased at higher population densities because of a greater percentage of nonbreeding 2-year-old females in the population. There was no density-dependent relationship between numbers and survival of young or between number of yearlings and number of adults. The rate of social interactions was generally highest in June and decreased thereafter. Year-to-year and seasonal variations in rates of social interactions are interpreted in relation to the social structure of the population. Rates of social interaction were not directly correlated with population density. The dispersion of the population increased as the population increased. Adult males attempted to obtain exclusive use of the area and directed most of their agonistic behavior toward other males, both adults and yearlings. Agonistic behavior among females exceeded amicable behavior in only one of the five years of study. The growth of the harem may be possible because of mutual tolerance among females. Play fighting occurred only among yearlings. A complex interaction occurs between the behavioral characteristics of the individual animals and density effects related to the number, age, and sex of the animals.

Agonistic behavior of mice and rats: a review.

This paper reviews the results of research on the agonistic behavior of wild and tame strains of house mice (Mus musculus) and the Norway rat (Rattus norvegicus) and covers papers that have appeared since an earlier review (Scott and Fredericson, 1951) Various methods for observing, measuring, and eliciting fighting are described and their appropriate uses discussed. Measures of latency and frequency are more satisfactory than arbitrary rating scales. Situations involving competition over food present complex motivational problems. The basic agonistic behavior patterns (ethograms) of rats and mice are compared. Differences appear in the lack of playful fighting and weaning threats in mice, the dual “boxing” posture of rats, and the unique “tail rattling” in mice. Both species are alike in their inability to form complex dominance hierarchies in which fighting is reduced to threat and avoidance. As a general theory, each species has evolved behavior patterns and physiological mechanisms of behavior which are adaptively related to its own social organization and population dynamics. Mice and rats have evolved along different lines both from each other and other species of mammals.