The social environment of animals influences individual social decisions, which in turn feeds
back on the social environment. The two halves of this feedback loop are rarely studied in …

On and within most sites across an animal's body live complex communities of
microorganisms. These microorganisms perform a variety of important functions for their …

Numerous reports have documented the occurrence of same-sex sociosexual behaviour
(SSB) across animal species. However, the distribution of the behaviour within a species …

Social instability frequently arises in group-living species, but the potential costs have rarely
been investigated in free-living cooperative breeders, especially across different timeframes …

The complex social behaviour of cichlids has fascinated scientists and hobbyists alike for
almost 100 years. In this chapter, we review the breadth and complexity of cichlid behaviour …

Among-individual variation in behaviour is a widespread phenomenon, with several
frameworks developed to explain its existence. Maternal effects, which can have significant …

The evolution of cooperative behavior is a major area of research among evolutionary
biologists and behavioral ecologists, yet there are few estimates of its heritability or its …

In cooperatively breeding species, subordinates can obtain group membership through
social interactions with other group members or by providing services such as helping with …

Seasonally breeding animals undergo shifts in physiology and behavior in response to
changes in photoperiod (day length). Interestingly, some species, such as Siberian hamsters …

Despite essential progress towards understanding the evolution of cooperative behaviour,
we still lack detailed knowledge about its underlying molecular mechanisms, genetic basis …