RRraaawwrrr.... all about Lions

The Lion Research Center is led by Craig Packer, and is arguably the top research group on lion behavior. The website has an extensive publication list (all one-click-pdfs) on virtually all the components of the life history of lions. 

My favorite set of experiments were the choice experiments with stuffed lion toys, showing that dark manes are both more intimidating to males and attractive to females. There are a few videos as well!

Photo from the Lion Research Center

Meerkat Family Breakfast

  Meerkat Family Breakfast | photo page - everystockphoto

Effects of Helpers on Juvenile Development and Survival in Meerkats  

Although breeding success is known to increase with group size in several cooperative mammals, the mechanisms underlying these relationships are uncertain. We show that in wild groups of cooperative meerkats, Suricata suricatta, reductions in the ratio of helpers to pups depress the daily weight gain and growth of pups and the daily weight gain of helpers. Increases in the daily weight gain of pups are associated with heavier weights at independence and at 1 year of age, as well as with improved foraging success as juveniles and higher survival rates through the first year of life. These results suggest that the effects of helpers on the fitness of pups extend beyond weaning and that helpers may gain direct as well as indirect benefits by feeding pups.

Clutton-Brock et al. (2001)

Science 28 September 2001:

Vol. 293. no. 5539, pp. 2446 - 2449

DOI: 10.1126/science.1061274

Large Animal Research Group at Cambridge University 

How cooperation is maintained in human societies

Humans are incredibly cooperative, but why do people cooperate and how is cooperation maintained? A new research study by UCLA anthropology professor Robert Boyd and his colleagues from the Santa Fe Institute in New Mexico suggests cooperation in large groups is maintained by punishment.

Link to Article on ScienceDaily