Heather Watts: LMU

Patterns of survival and reproduction are known to be influenced by prevailing environmental conditions. In this talk, I will draw from my research on gregarious mammals and birds to examine how the social environment can affect these two components of fitness. First, I will discuss how social status, group size and maternal support influence survival and reproduction in the spotted hyena (Crocuta crocuta), a large carnivore that lives in complex social groups much like those of cercopithecine primates. Second, I will present my recent research investigating the effect of social cues on reproductive timing in the pine siskin (Spinus pinus), a nomadic North American finch with a flexible breeding schedule. Throughout, I discuss what these findings tell us about the evolution of behavior in these species.