Duration and outcome of intergroup conflict influences intragroup affiliative behaviour.

ABSTRACT: Theoreticians have long suggested that the amount of intergroup conflict in which a group is involved could influence the level of cooperation or affiliation displayed by its members. Despite the prevalence of intergroup conflicts in many social animal species, however, few empirical studies have investigated this potential link. Here, I show that intragroup allopreening rates are highest in green woodhoopoe (Phoeniculus purpureus) groups that have the greatest involvement in intergroup conflict. One reason for this relationship is a post-conflict increase in allopreening, and I demonstrate for the first time that both conflict duration and outcome influence subsequent allopreening rates: group members allopreened more following long conflicts and those they lost compared with short confli

SUBMITTER: Radford AN 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2605834 | biostudies-literature | 2008 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature