title: Variation in glucocorticoid levels in relation to direct and third-party interactions in a social cichlid fish.
abstract: In complex animal societies, direct interactions between group members can influence the behavior and glucocorticoid levels of individuals involved. Recently, it has become apparent that third-party group members can influence dyadic interactions, and vice versa. Thus, glucocorticoid levels may vary depending on interactions of other members of the social group. Using the social cichlid fish Neolamprologus pulcher, we examined the relationship between levels of the glucocorticoid hormone cortisol in subordinate females and 1) direct interactions with dominant group members, as well as 2) dyadic interactions between the dominant male and female, in which the subordinate female was not directly involved. Subordinate females that frequently engaged in non-aggressive interactions with dominant females had lower cortisol levels. There was no relationship between subordinate female cortisol and agonistic interactions between the subordinate female and either dominant. Subordinate females had higher cortisol levels when in groups in which the dominant breeding pair behaved agonistically towards each other and performed fewer courtship behaviors. For subordinate females in this species, variation in cortisol levels is associated with their own affiliative behavior, but also can be explained by the broader social context of interactions between dominant members of the group.
authors.affiliation: Department of Evolution, Ecology, and Organismal Biology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA. Electronic address: ligocki.3@osu.edu.
authors.forename: Isaac Y
authors.initials: IY
authors.lastname: Ligocki
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL, USA.
authors.forename: Ryan L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Earley
authors.affiliation: Department of Evolution, Ecology, and Organismal Biology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA.
authors.forename: Jennifer K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Hellmann
authors.affiliation: Department of Evolution, Ecology, and Organismal Biology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA; Department of Mathematics, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA.
authors.forename: Ian M
authors.initials: IM
authors.lastname: Hamilton
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D023681:Cichlids / Q000097:blood / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006608:Hierarchy, Social; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D025341:Principal Component Analysis; D011863:Radioimmunoassay; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012919:Social Behavior
chemical_list: D006854:Hydrocortisone
keywords: Conflict; Cooperative breeding; Cortisol; Neolamprologus pulcher