Large-group living boosts magpie intelligence
Growing up in a large social group makes Australian magpies more intelligent, new research shows.
Plants & Animals
Feb 7, 2018
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Page 5 - News tagged with group size
In mongoose society, immigrants are a bonus—when given time to settle in
Researchers studying wild dwarf mongooses have provided insight into what happens when immigrants join a new group. The study in Current Biology on December 4 shows that, initially, recent immigrants rarely serve as lookout, ...
Plants & Animals
Dec 4, 2017
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7
Why are primates big-brained? Researchers' answer is food for thought
Brain size in primates is predicted by diet, an analysis by a team of New York University anthropologists indicates. These results call into question "the social brain hypothesis," which has posited that humans and other ...
Plants & Animals
Mar 27, 2017
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Bigger brains help social primates to make up after a fight, study says
Social primates with bigger brains are likely to use their added cerebral power to cope with conflict, a study from The University of Manchester has revealed.
Plants & Animals
Mar 27, 2017
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Study of woodpecker social groups sparks debate
New research from the University of St Andrews has sparked debate about what it takes to live in stable, long-lasting social groups.
Plants & Animals
Mar 8, 2017
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14
'Bickering' flies make evolutionary point
When a male fruit fly gets aggressive, he rears up on his back four legs and batters his foe with his front pair. Neither fly seems particularly damaged by the encounter, but their subsequent actions are telling about the ...
Evolution
Dec 1, 2016
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53
Risk of being involved in an avalanche less for smaller groups of recreationists
Avalanches are the primary hazard for winter backcountry recreationists and cause numerous deaths and injuries annually. As winter backcountry activities increase in popularity, avalanches are a very real risk for adventurers ...
Environment
Mar 8, 2016
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79
Do bigger brains make smarter carnivores?
Why do dolphins evolve large brains relative to the size of their bodies, while blue whales and hippos have brains that are relatively small?
Plants & Animals
Jan 29, 2016
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22
Chitchat and small talk could serve an evolutionary need to bond with others
We think of chitchat and small talk as the things people say to pass the time or kill an awkward silence. New research suggests, however, that these idle conversations could be a social-bonding tool passed down from primates.
Plants & Animals
Dec 14, 2015
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How highly social mammals optimize group size
(Phys.org)—The sizes of social groups among mammals are driven by dynamics from within the group and a combination of pressures and incentives from outside. While aggregation and cooperation are often beneficial for species ...
