Social dominance
Social dominance has been studied in 3 papers since 2019: none in people yet, 3 in animals. The research so far is in animals. The newest paper, Jan 26, 2022: “Early-life experience shapes patterns of senescence in a food-caching passerine”.
None of its findings points the other way.
- 2 independent labs in 2 countries
- Funders: Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council and 8 more
- Animals3
What did studies of Social dominance find?
3Studies of Social dominance measured 3 outcomes; the most studied are reproductive senescence (1 study), telomere attrition (1) and telomere length and telomere attrition (1).
Reproductive senescence
downin P. canadensis1
1 study
Reproductive senescence
downin P. canadensis1
Social dominance decreases reproductive senescence in P. canadensis (until 12 years of age before declining).
“Dominant Juvenile males advanced laying dates until 11 years and increased annual number of nestlings until 12 years of age before declining”
Animalsmales
Early-life experience shapes patterns of senescence in a food-caching passerine
Biology letters
Telomere attrition
downin P. mahali1
1 study
Telomere attrition
downin P. mahali1
Social dominance decreases telomere attrition in dominants with shorter telomeres, over half-year intervals.
“over shorter (half-year) time intervals dominants with shorter telomeres showed lower rates of telomere attrition”
Animalsin dominants with shorter telomeres, over half-year intervalshalf-year
Social dominance and rainfall predict telomere dynamics in a cooperative arid-zone bird
Molecular ecology
Telomere length and telomere attrition
no changein P. mahali1
1 study
Telomere length and telomere attrition
no changein P. mahali1
Social dominance showed no clear effect on telomere length and telomere attrition in P. mahali.
“Dominant birds, who monopolise reproduction, had neither shorter telomeres nor faster telomere attrition rates over the long-term (1-5 years) than their subordinates.”
Animals1-5 years
Social dominance and rainfall predict telomere dynamics in a cooperative arid-zone bird
Molecular ecology