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Sibling competition and hunger increase allostatic load in spotted hyaenas
Sarah Benhaiem1, Heribert Hofer, Martin Dehnhard
1Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research (IZW), Alfred-Kowalke-Strasse 17, Berlin 10315, Germany. benhaiem@izw-berlin.de
Biology Letters
|April 26, 2013
Summary
In spotted hyenas, subordinate cubs experience higher allostatic load (stress) than dominants. Hunger significantly increases this stress, especially when cubs compete for resources, impacting their health.
Area of Science:
- Behavioral Ecology
- Physiology
- Animal Behavior
Background:
- Allostasis maintains homeostasis via responses to challenges, with cumulative costs termed allostatic load.
- The allostatic load hypothesis links hunger and social dominance to increased allostatic load.
- Spotted hyena sibling competition for milk establishes dominance hierarchies with winner/loser effects.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of hunger and sibling competition on allostatic load in young spotted hyenas.
- To test predictions that subordinates and challenged dominants exhibit higher allostatic load.
Main Methods:
- Faecal glucocorticoid metabolite concentrations (fGMCs) were measured as an indicator of allostatic load.
- Measurements were taken in young spotted hyena litters, comparing subordinates and dominants.
- Effects of hunger (hungry vs. fed states) and sibling interactions were analyzed.
Main Results:
- Subordinates exhibited significantly higher fGMCs than dominants.
- Dominant females had higher fGMCs than dominant males.
- Hunger elevated fGMCs in both dominant and subordinate hyenas compared to when fed.
Conclusions:
- Sibling competition and dominance dynamics significantly influence allostatic load in young spotted hyenas.
- Hunger acts as a critical stressor, exacerbating allostatic load, particularly in competitive interactions.
- Findings support the allostatic load hypothesis in a wild social carnivore context.
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