| Title: | The social transmission of stress in animal collectives |
| Author(s): | Brandl HB; Pruessner JC; Farine DR; |
| Address: | "Centre for the Advanced Study of Collective Behaviour, University of Konstanz, 78457 Konstanz, Germany. Department of Collective Behaviour, Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior, 78457 Konstanz, Germany. Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies, University of Zurich, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland. Department of Psychology, University of Konstanz, 78457 Konstanz, Germany. Division of Ecology and Evolution, Research School of Biology, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 2600, Australia" |
| ISSN/ISBN: | 1471-2954 (Electronic) 0962-8452 (Print) 0962-8452 (Linking) |
| Abstract: | "The stress systems are powerful mediators between the organism's systemic dynamic equilibrium and changes in its environment beyond the level of anticipated fluctuations. Over- or under-activation of the stress systems' responses can impact an animal's health, survival and reproductive success. While physiological stress responses and their influence on behaviour and performance are well understood at the individual level, it remains largely unknown whether-and how-stressed individuals can affect the stress systems of other group members, and consequently their collective behaviour. Stressed individuals could directly signal the presence of a stressor (e.g. via an alarm call or pheromones), or an acute or chronic activation of the stress systems could be perceived by others (as an indirect cue) and spread via social contagion. Such social transmission of stress responses could then amplify the effects of stressors by impacting social interactions, social dynamics and the collective performance of groups. As the neuroendocrine pathways of the stress response are highly conserved among vertebrates, transmission of physiological stress states could be more widespread among non-human animals than previously thought. We therefore suggest that identifying the extent to which stress transmission modulates animal collectives represents an important research avenue" |
| Keywords: | "Animals;Animals Behavior, Animal/physiology Neurosecretory Systems *Social Behavior *Stress, Physiological/physiology Vertebrates behavioural endocrinology collective behaviour hormonal coregulation physiological contagion social behaviour stress contagion;" |
| Notes: | "MedlineBrandl, Hanja B Pruessner, Jens C Farine, Damien R eng Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't Review England 2022/05/12 Proc Biol Sci. 2022 May 11; 289(1974):20212158. doi: 10.1098/rspb.2021.2158. Epub 2022 May 11" |
