Presentation Details
| Defensive Large Worker Presence Predicts Cooperative Nesting in Naked Mole-Rats Antonella Guadagnino1, 2, Dana Delgrosso2, Dan P.McCloskey1, 2, 3. 1CUNY Graduate Center, New York, NY, USA.2College of Staten Island, Staten Island, NY, USA.3CUNY Neuroscience Collaborative, New York, NY, USA |
Abstract
Cooperative nesting is an important behavior in naked mole-rat colonies. Worker subcastes show division of labor, with Large Workers (LW) associated with defense and Small Workers (SW) linked to digging and foraging. Our previous work found that five-animal groups were less likely to form nests unless at least one LW was present, suggesting LW presence may be a key precondition for small-group nesting. We therefore tested whether brief social exposure could alter nesting outcomes. Prior to testing, a focal LW received acute exposure to familiar or foreign conspecifics before placement into a nesting group. Social exposure did not significantly alter nest likelihood, but was associated with changes in measures of nesting stability. These findings suggest that group composition influences whether nesting occurs, whereas recent social experience can shape nesting stability. Future studies will examine whether oxytocin modulates these effects by altering social cue salience.
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