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Dryad

The dissection of a despotic society: exploration, dominance and hormonal traits

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Mar 27, 2024 version files 13.89 KB

Abstract

Naked mole-rats (Heterocephalus glaber) live in large colonies with one breeding female (queen), one to three breeding males, and the remainder are non-reproductive subordinates. We investigated how the dominance ranking position in naked mole-rats differs with exploration (the propensity to explore a novel environment), and endocrine related markers. Faecal progestagen metabolite (fPM), glucocorticoid metabolite (fGCM), androgen metabolite (fAM) metabolite, and plasma prolactin concentrations were quantified in breeding, high, middle and low ranked females and males. There were no significant differences between the dominance ranking positions and exploration behaviour. Interestingly, the queens and high-ranking females had higher fGCM and fAM concentrations compared to middle and low ranked females; possibly due to an increased possibility of conflict with each other. The queen had significantly higher fPM concentrations than all other ranked females since she is responsible for procreation. In the males, the breeding males had higher fGCM concentrations compared to high and low ranked males. However, breeding males and middle-ranking males had overall higher prolactin levels than all other ranked males and these individuals may indirectly contribute to greater cooperative care and burrow maintenance. We suggest that high-ranking females exhibit higher fGCM and fAM concentrations possibly due to competition with the queen.