Collective defence and behavioural homogeneity during simulated territorial intrusions in banded mongooses (Mungos mungo)

• DOI: 10.1111/eth.13204
• Publication Date: 2021-09-10T05:27:18Z
• Authors: P.A. Green; E.F.R. Preston; M.H. Nicholl; D.P. Croft; F.J. Thompson; M.A. Cant
• Keywords: Group conflict; Stimulus (psychology); Social conflict

Abstract Conflicts between stable social groups (“intergroup conflicts”) can be damaging and exert a strong influence on within‐group behaviour. The success of during intergroup conflict may depend the ability individual group members to converge upon collective defence behaviour, such as approaching or attacking. In principle, achieved via united front, in which each responds same way an threat. We tested impact simulated conflicts behaviour banded mongooses ( Mungos mungo ), cooperatively breeding mammal is particularly common costly. presented focal with scent markings, call playbacks caged live animals from rival compared their responses these stimuli own‐group control stimuli. A greater proportion approached stimulus acted defensively response controls, consistent unified response. However, counter our expectation, exhibited lower behavioural homogeneity when controls. closer examination behaviours competitors used revealed that was driven by use, diversity, defensive relevant repelling rivals. Finally, size affected responses: increased, decreased. Our results lend support hypothesis leads coordinated immediate threat conflict. need not mean all execute behaviours.