Age, seasonality, and correlates of aggression in female Apennine chamois

摘要: Intrinsic and environmental stressors, such as age seasonality, may influence social behavior endocrine levels in gregarious foragers, but little is known about how season affect both behavioral physiological responses. We evaluated seasonal/age variation of aggression vigilance, (fecal cortisol testosterone metabolites), a herbivore, the Apennine chamois Rupicapra pyrenaica ornata. examined period decreasing resource abundance maternal care from July to October, key for nursing, weaning, early growth offspring. Aggression rate, decreased throughout July–October, while intensity showed reverse. peaked when were on most nutritious vegetation patches. Dominance increased with age, prime-aged females (4–8 years old) higher involved aggressive interactions more often than subadult or older females. Our findings suggest that, summer, nursing effort greatest, selection food patches leads frequent encounters between female chamois, enhancing endogenous stress response. The progressive decrease July–October triggers competition scarce resources aggression. Most likely, energetic demands lactation offspring guarding determinants chamois. results multi-factorial compromise reproductive state levels, group-living species. cost motherhood: aggression, peak during lactation, despite abundant resources. In females, dominance increase age. A stage be necessary animal. that motherhood stressful event