Meerkats adjust their food intake and growth rate to match the size of their potential sexual rivals. (Image by robotpolisher via Flickr CC 2.0)
In the wild, meerkats adjust their food intake and growth rate to match the size of their potential sexual rivals, according to a new study. The research also indicates a dominant meerkat will continue to grow if there is only a small size difference between them and their next heaviest potential rival.
The researchers studied 14 groups of wild meerkats in the Kalahari Desert. They identified pairs of same-sex littermates and fed the lighter individual in each pair one-half of a boiled egg twice daily for three months. The team then compared the growth of the unfed animals against the fed partner, as well as against unfed control individuals. They found the unfed meerkats responded to the additional growth of their littermates by also increasing their food intake and their weight.
Authors:
Elise Huchard, Sinead English, Matt B. V. Bell, Nathan Thavarajah & Tim Clutton-Brock
Corresponding author:
Elise Huchard
Original paper, published on May 23, 2016 in Nature.
