In ethology, a fission–fusion society is one in which the size and composition of the social group change as time passes and animals move throughout the environment; animals merge into a group (fusion)—e.g. sleeping in one place—or split (fission)—e.g. foraging in small groups during the day. For species that live in fission–fusion societies, group composition is a dynamic property. The change in composition, subgroup size, and dispersion of different groups are 3 main elements of a fission-fusion society.[1][2]
Chimpanzees often form smaller subgroups when travelling for longer periods at a time in between each food patch.[3] When obtaining food, the size of subgroups can change depending on how much food is available and how far away the food may be. If food is worth retrieving due to little travel costs, subgroup size will enlarge. So among chimpanzees, the abundance of food and how dense it may be are factors that contribute to the changes of subgroup sizes.[3]
Orangutans
Orangutans are one type of primates that model individual-based fission-fusion.[4] Travel parties are established among this species inhabiting specifically in a Sumatran forest, and there are several benefits. Mating opportunities are a large benefit of grouping, as parties are most substantial during high mating activity.[4] Infant socialization also contains benefits as well as costs, due to their needs to be cared for. Females are required to carry their infants, and those with infants of mid-size experience greater costs than those of small sizes. Carrying a small infant does not require much, and they become less dependent as they begin to wean. Mid-sized infants on the other hand, require the most energy. When travelling, females are required to support their mid-sized infants by carrying them, and waiting for them if they've fallen behind.[4]
Humans
Humans also form fission-fusion societies. In hunter-gatherer societies, humans form groups which are made up of several individuals that may split up to obtain different resources.[5] Another example of a fission-fusion society in hunter-gatherer societies is communication among the group. Groups may begin to split due to arguments and disagreements.[5] Among humans, gossip and language in general is also an important feature involved in fission-fusion. Communication keeps distant groups together although they may not be within close distances of each other.[5]
Elephants
Forest elephants socializing at a clearing
Elephants display grouping as it helps to minimize risks and enhance benefits. Forest elephants often fuse into larger groups throughout forest clearings, to exchange information and maximize social opportunities.[6] Elephants are drawn to large parties present at forest clearings, and remain in the clearing for a longer period of time if there are individuals outside of their party present. Young African male elephants display a preference for larger groups, in order to communicate with other elephants and to explore dominance.[7] Adolescent males can gain knowledge from adult males and acquire information about their new social methods.[7]
Bats
Bats are one of the orders of animals which shows an advanced fission-fusion society.[8] Among female northern long-eared bats, switching roosts is common. There are several factors involved when switching roosts, which can include canopy cover and height, decay stage of the roost, and tree height.[9] Geographic regions contribute to the switching of roosts, as females have been shown to switch when temperatures rise in Kentucky, and less when in a colder climate in Nova Scotia.[9] There are also three important behaviours involved in roost-switching, which are fission-fusion grouping, synchronized movement, and settlement behaviour.[8] Settlement behaviour is when bats remain in the most desirable roost possible, synchronized movement is when bats choose to move to another roost in a synchronized manner, and fission-fusion behaviour is when a bat colony separates into sub-colonies which then combine back together to form a large colony.[8] A reason that bats can display fission-fusion behaviours is due to the risk of infection. Increased risk of disease can occur from settlement and synchronized behaviours, but fission-fusion societies are capable of reducing the risk of disease. Fission-fusion societies are capable of reducing the risk because of the frequent separation into subgroups.[8]
These societies change frequently in their size and composition, making up a permanent social group called the "parent group". Permanent social networks consist of all individual members of a faunal community and often varies to track changes in their environment and based on individual animal dynamics.
In a fission–fusion society, the main parent group can fracture (fission) into smaller stable subgroups or individuals to adapt to environmental or social circumstances. For example, a number of males may break off from the main group in order to hunt or forage for food during the day, but at night they may return to join (fusion) the primary group to share food and partake in other activities.
Overlapping of so-called "parent groups" territorially is also frequent, resulting in more interaction and mingling of community members, further altering the make-up of the parent group. This results in instances where, say, a female chimpanzee may generally belong to one parent group, but encounters a male who belongs to a neighboring community. If they copulate, the female may stay with the male for several days and come into contact with his parent group, temporarily "fusing" into the male's community. In some cases, animals may leave one parent group to associate themselves with another, usually for reproductive reasons.
^ abcRamos-Fernández, Gabriel; Morales, Juan M. (2014-05-09). "Unraveling fission-fusion dynamics: how subgroup properties and dyadic interactions influence individual decisions". Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology. 68 (8): 1225–1235. doi:10.1007/s00265-014-1733-8. ISSN 0340-5443. S2CID 15104770.
^ abAureli, Filippo; Schaffner, Colleen M.; Boesch, Christophe; Bearder, Simon K.; Call, Josep; Chapman, Colin A.; Connor, Richard; Fiore, Anthony Di; Dunbar, Robin I. M. (August 2008). "Fission‐Fusion Dynamics". Current Anthropology. 49 (4): 627–654. doi:10.1086/586708. hdl:1893/414. ISSN 0011-3204. S2CID 6691589.
^ abChapman, C.A.; Chapman, L.J.; Wrangham, R.W. (January 1995). "Ecological constraints on group size: an analysis of spider monkey and chimpanzee subgroups". Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology. 36 (1): 59–70. doi:10.1007/bf00175729. ISSN 0340-5443. S2CID 22958072.
^ abcvan Schaik, Carel P. (January 1999). "The socioecology of fission-fusion sociality in Orangutans". Primates. 40 (1): 69–86. doi:10.1007/bf02557703. ISSN 0032-8332. PMID 23179533. S2CID 13366732.
^ abcCouzin, Iain D.; Laidre, Mark E. (August 2009). "Fission–fusion populations". Current Biology. 19 (15): R633–R635. doi:10.1016/j.cub.2009.05.034. ISSN 0960-9822. PMID 19674541. S2CID 13549970.
^Fishlock, Vicki; Lee, Phyllis C. (February 2013). "Forest elephants: fission–fusion and social arenas". Animal Behaviour. 85 (2): 357–363. doi:10.1016/j.anbehav.2012.11.004. ISSN 0003-3472. S2CID 53147174.
^ abEvans, Kate E.; Harris, Stephen (September 2008). "Adolescence in male African elephants, Loxodonta africana, and the importance of sociality". Animal Behaviour. 76 (3): 779–787. doi:10.1016/j.anbehav.2008.03.019. ISSN 0003-3472. S2CID 53157803.
^ abcdKashima, Kazutaka; Ohtsuki, Hisashi; Satake, Akiko (February 7, 2013). "Fission-fusion bat behavior as a strategy for balancing the conflicting needs of maximizing information accuracy and minimizing infection risk". Journal of Theoretical Biology. 318: 101–109. Bibcode:2013JThBi.318..101K. doi:10.1016/j.jtbi.2012.10.034. ISSN 0022-5193. PMID 23147233.
^ abPatriquin, Krista J.; Leonard, Marty L.; Broders, Hugh G.; Ford, W. Mark; Britzke, Eric R.; Silvis, Alexander (December 2016). "Weather as a proximate explanation for fission–fusion dynamics in female northern long-eared bats". Animal Behaviour. 122: 47–57. doi:10.1016/j.anbehav.2016.09.022. ISSN 0003-3472. S2CID 53147788.
January 18, 2023
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In ethology a fission fusion society is one in which the size and composition of the social group change as time passes and animals move throughout the environment animals merge into a group fusion e g sleeping in one place or split fission e g foraging in small groups during the day For species that live in fission fusion societies group composition is a dynamic property The change in composition subgroup size and dispersion of different groups are 3 main elements of a fission fusion society 1 2 This social organization is found in several primates elephants cetaceans ungulates social carnivores some birds 1 and some fish Contents 1 Species 1 1 Primates 1 1 1 Chimpanzees 1 1 2 Orangutans 1 1 3 Humans 1 2 Elephants 1 3 Bats 2 Structure 3 See also 4 ReferencesSpecies EditFission fusion societies occur among many different species of primates e g chimpanzees orangutans and humans elephants e g forest elephants African elephants and bats e g northern long eared bats The change in composition subgroup size and dispersion of different groups are 3 main elements of a fission fusion society 1 2 Primates Edit Chimpanzees Edit Chimpanzees often form smaller subgroups when travelling for longer periods at a time in between each food patch 3 When obtaining food the size of subgroups can change depending on how much food is available and how far away the food may be If food is worth retrieving due to little travel costs subgroup size will enlarge So among chimpanzees the abundance of food and how dense it may be are factors that contribute to the changes of subgroup sizes 3 Orangutans Edit Orangutans are one type of primates that model individual based fission fusion 4 Travel parties are established among this species inhabiting specifically in a Sumatran forest and there are several benefits Mating opportunities are a large benefit of grouping as parties are most substantial during high mating activity 4 Infant socialization also contains benefits as well as costs due to their needs to be cared for Females are required to carry their infants and those with infants of mid size experience greater costs than those of small sizes Carrying a small infant does not require much and they become less dependent as they begin to wean Mid sized infants on the other hand require the most energy When travelling females are required to support their mid sized infants by carrying them and waiting for them if they ve fallen behind 4 Humans Edit Humans also form fission fusion societies In hunter gatherer societies humans form groups which are made up of several individuals that may split up to obtain different resources 5 Another example of a fission fusion society in hunter gatherer societies is communication among the group Groups may begin to split due to arguments and disagreements 5 Among humans gossip and language in general is also an important feature involved in fission fusion Communication keeps distant groups together although they may not be within close distances of each other 5 Elephants Edit Forest elephants socializing at a clearing Elephants display grouping as it helps to minimize risks and enhance benefits Forest elephants often fuse into larger groups throughout forest clearings to exchange information and maximize social opportunities 6 Elephants are drawn to large parties present at forest clearings and remain in the clearing for a longer period of time if there are individuals outside of their party present Young African male elephants display a preference for larger groups in order to communicate with other elephants and to explore dominance 7 Adolescent males can gain knowledge from adult males and acquire information about their new social methods 7 Bats Edit Bats are one of the orders of animals which shows an advanced fission fusion society 8 Among female northern long eared bats switching roosts is common There are several factors involved when switching roosts which can include canopy cover and height decay stage of the roost and tree height 9 Geographic regions contribute to the switching of roosts as females have been shown to switch when temperatures rise in Kentucky and less when in a colder climate in Nova Scotia 9 There are also three important behaviours involved in roost switching which are fission fusion grouping synchronized movement and settlement behaviour 8 Settlement behaviour is when bats remain in the most desirable roost possible synchronized movement is when bats choose to move to another roost in a synchronized manner and fission fusion behaviour is when a bat colony separates into sub colonies which then combine back together to form a large colony 8 A reason that bats can display fission fusion behaviours is due to the risk of infection Increased risk of disease can occur from settlement and synchronized behaviours but fission fusion societies are capable of reducing the risk of disease Fission fusion societies are capable of reducing the risk because of the frequent separation into subgroups 8 Structure EditThis section does not cite any sources Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed April 2017 Learn how and when to remove this template message These societies change frequently in their size and composition making up a permanent social group called the parent group Permanent social networks consist of all individual members of a faunal community and often varies to track changes in their environment and based on individual animal dynamics In a fission fusion society the main parent group can fracture fission into smaller stable subgroups or individuals to adapt to environmental or social circumstances For example a number of males may break off from the main group in order to hunt or forage for food during the day but at night they may return to join fusion the primary group to share food and partake in other activities Overlapping of so called parent groups territorially is also frequent resulting in more interaction and mingling of community members further altering the make up of the parent group This results in instances where say a female chimpanzee may generally belong to one parent group but encounters a male who belongs to a neighboring community If they copulate the female may stay with the male for several days and come into contact with his parent group temporarily fusing into the male s community In some cases animals may leave one parent group to associate themselves with another usually for reproductive reasons See also EditPair bonding Human bondingReferences Edit a b c Ramos Fernandez Gabriel Morales Juan M 2014 05 09 Unraveling fission fusion dynamics how subgroup properties and dyadic interactions influence individual decisions Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology 68 8 1225 1235 doi 10 1007 s00265 014 1733 8 ISSN 0340 5443 S2CID 15104770 a b Aureli Filippo Schaffner Colleen M Boesch Christophe Bearder Simon K Call Josep Chapman Colin A Connor Richard Fiore Anthony Di Dunbar Robin I M August 2008 Fission Fusion Dynamics Current Anthropology 49 4 627 654 doi 10 1086 586708 hdl 1893 414 ISSN 0011 3204 S2CID 6691589 a b Chapman C A Chapman L J Wrangham R W January 1995 Ecological constraints on group size an analysis of spider monkey and chimpanzee subgroups Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology 36 1 59 70 doi 10 1007 bf00175729 ISSN 0340 5443 S2CID 22958072 a b c van Schaik Carel P January 1999 The socioecology of fission fusion sociality in Orangutans Primates 40 1 69 86 doi 10 1007 bf02557703 ISSN 0032 8332 PMID 23179533 S2CID 13366732 a b c Couzin Iain D Laidre Mark E August 2009 Fission fusion populations Current Biology 19 15 R633 R635 doi 10 1016 j cub 2009 05 034 ISSN 0960 9822 PMID 19674541 S2CID 13549970 Fishlock Vicki Lee Phyllis C February 2013 Forest elephants fission fusion and social arenas Animal Behaviour 85 2 357 363 doi 10 1016 j anbehav 2012 11 004 ISSN 0003 3472 S2CID 53147174 a b Evans Kate E Harris Stephen September 2008 Adolescence in male African elephants Loxodonta africana and the importance of sociality Animal Behaviour 76 3 779 787 doi 10 1016 j anbehav 2008 03 019 ISSN 0003 3472 S2CID 53157803 a b c d Kashima Kazutaka Ohtsuki Hisashi Satake Akiko February 7 2013 Fission fusion bat behavior as a strategy for balancing the conflicting needs of maximizing information accuracy and minimizing infection risk Journal of Theoretical Biology 318 101 109 Bibcode 2013JThBi 318 101K doi 10 1016 j jtbi 2012 10 034 ISSN 0022 5193 PMID 23147233 a b Patriquin Krista J Leonard Marty L Broders Hugh G Ford W Mark Britzke Eric R Silvis Alexander December 2016 Weather as a proximate explanation for fission fusion dynamics in female northern long eared bats Animal Behaviour 122 47 57 doi 10 1016 j anbehav 2016 09 022 ISSN 0003 3472 S2CID 53147788 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Fission fusion society amp oldid 1127008071, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, 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