In a groundbreaking study published online on June 18 in iScience, researchers have found that female chimpanzees who were more socially integrated with other females before giving birth had a significantly higher chance of raising surviving offspring. This discovery sheds light on the crucial role of social connections among female chimps, particularly in the absence of close kin.

The study, led by Joseph Feldblum, assistant research professor of evolutionary anthropology at Duke University, analyzed three decades’ worth of behavioral data from 37 mothers and their 110 offspring. The researchers focused on association and grooming behavior – how often females spent time near each other or engaged in social grooming – in the year before birth.

The results showed that females who were more socially connected had a considerable better chance of raising their babies through to their first year, the period of highest infant mortality. In fact, a female with a sociality score twice the community average had a 95% chance her infant would survive the first year, while one who was halfway below average saw that chance drop to 75%. The effect persisted through age five, which is roughly the age of weaning.

Interestingly, the researchers found that having close female kin in the group – like a sister or mother – did not account for the survival benefit. Neither did having bonds with males, who could potentially offer protection. What mattered most was having social connections with other females, regardless of kinship.

“This tells us it’s not just about being born into a supportive family,” said Feldblum. “These are primarily social relationships with non-kin.”

The researchers propose several possibilities for the survival benefit, including:

* Social females receiving less harassment from other females
* More help defending food patches or protecting their young
* Offspring being less likely to be killed by another group member
* Social connections helping these females stay in better condition – maybe better fed and less stressed – through pregnancy, giving their offspring a better chance from the get-go.

Moreover, social females stayed social after their babies were born – a sign of stable relationships, not short-term alliances. “Our results don’t prove causation, but they point to the value of being surrounded by others who support you, or at least tolerate you,” said Feldblum.

This study has significant implications for understanding human evolution and cooperation. As Feldblum noted, “Human females who don’t have access to kin – for example because they moved to a new city or village – are still able to form strong bonds that can benefit them.” Studying these social dynamics in chimpanzees can help us understand how we evolved to be the social, cooperative species we are today.

The world’s oceans are home to an incredible array of marine life, from massive blue whales to tiny plankton. However, many of these ocean giants are facing significant threats, including overfishing, pollution, and climate change. A recent study has shed new light on the plight of these marine animals, using satellite tracking data to pinpoint where they need the most protection.

Led by Ana Sequeira of Australian National University and supported by the United Nations, the research project, called MegaMove, brought together nearly 400 scientists from over 50 countries. The team used biologging data collected from satellite tags to inform a new blueprint for ocean conservation.

“This is one of the largest marine tracking data sets ever assembled,” said Francesco Ferretti, a marine ecologist at Virginia Tech who contributed to the study. “It’s not just about drawing lines on a map. We need to understand animal behavior and overlap that with human activity to find the best solutions.”

The research revealed some startling insights into the migratory patterns of these ocean giants. For example, Virginia’s coastline is part of a major migratory corridor for marine species, including sharks, which play a critical role in maintaining healthy marine ecosystems.

“Sharks, for example, play a critical role in maintaining healthy marine ecosystems, which in turn support fisheries and recreation,” Ferretti said. “What happens to apex predators can ripple across the food web and impact local economies.”

Past collapses of shellfish fisheries in North Carolina and impacts on seagrasses meadows have shown how predator loss can shift entire ecosystems.

The MegaMove project aimed to inform the United Nations’ 30×30 target: a global goal to protect 30 percent of the world’s oceans by 2030. However, the findings show that even if all 30 percent of protected areas were perfectly placed, it wouldn’t be enough.

“Sixty percent of the tracked animals’ critical habitats would be still outside these zones,” Ferretti said. “In addition to protected areas, we need targeted mitigation, changing fishing practices, rerouting shipping lanes, and reducing pollution.”

The project highlights the importance of collaboration and global science in addressing these challenges. Virginia Tech’s participation reflects a broader push to contribute to international, data-driven science.

“This project shows where the field is heading,” Ferretti said. “We’re seeing a revolution in big data approaches in marine science. Students need to be trained not only in fieldwork but in data science to meet future challenges.”

The MegaMove project can also help inspire the next generation of researchers and showcase how Virginia Tech connects local talent to worldwide impact.

Researchers at Swansea University have made an intriguing discovery about the behavior of wild chacma baboons on South Africa’s Cape Peninsula. By using high-resolution GPS tracking, they found that these intelligent primates walk in lines not for safety or strategy, but simply to stay close to their friends.

For a long time, scientists believed that baboons structured their travel patterns, known as “progressions,” to reduce risk and optimize access to food and water. However, the new study published in Behavioral Ecology reveals that this behavior is actually driven by social bonds rather than survival strategies.

The researchers analyzed 78 travel progressions over 36 days and found that the order in which individual baboons traveled was not random. They tested four potential explanations for this phenomenon, including strategic positioning to avoid danger or gain access to resources. However, their findings show that the consistent order of baboon movement patterns is solely driven by social relationships.

According to Dr. Andrew King, Associate Professor at Swansea University, “The baboons’ consistent order isn’t about avoiding danger like we see in prey animals or for better access to food or water. Instead, it’s driven by who they’re socially bonded with. They simply move with their friends, and this produces a consistent order.”
This discovery introduces the concept of a “social spandrel.” In biology, a spandrel refers to a trait that arises not because it was directly selected for but as a side effect of something else. The researchers found that the consistent travel patterns among baboons emerge naturally from their social affiliations with each other and not as an evolved strategy for safety or success.

The study highlights the importance of strong social bonds in baboon society, which are linked to longer lives and greater reproductive success. However, this research also shows that these bonds can lead to unintended consequences, such as consistent travel patterns, which serve no specific purpose but rather as a by-product of those relationships. The findings have implications for our understanding of collective animal behavior and the potential for social spandrels in other species.