Animals with stronger social bonds live longer and reproduce over longer timespans, according to a new research by Oxford University. This study is the first to assess the impacts of sociality on species across the entire animal kingdom. These species range from jellyfish to humans.
A team from the University of Oxford evaluated 152 animal species. They aimed to explore the effects of social behaviors on life history traits. The research focused on various species, including birds, mammals, insects, and corals. Previous studies often focused on one type of animal, like birds or mammals. Nevertheless, this study aimed for a broad assessment. The research provides unique insights into the connection between social living and life expectancy. It also reveals links to generation time and reproductive longevity.
SOCIAL ANIMALS LIVE LONGER AND REPRODUCE MORE CONSISTENTLY
Findings revealed that social animals tend to have longer lifespans, delay maturity, and reproduce more successfully than solitary species. The study suggests that even though being social may have costs, it ultimately provides more advantages than challenges.
THE COST AND BENEFIT BALANCE OF SOCIALITY
While social species benefit from group protection and shared resources, they also face social stressors. For example, animals with social hierarchies can experience stress due to competition, which can impact their health. Nevertheless, the benefits—like increased protection from predators—often outweigh these costs, contributing to longer life spans and reproductive windows.
SOCIAL SUPPORT HELPS FIGHT OFF AGING EFFECTS
The study also noted how social connections impact aging, known as senescence. The presence of social allies may reduce aging-related risks, potentially boosting lifespan. Yet, some aspects of social life, like dominance struggles, can contribute to stress, offsetting some of these longevity benefits.
SOCIAL BONDS INFLUENCE LONGEVITY DESPITE ENVIRONMENTAL CHALLENGES
Sociality in animals creates resilience, especially in stable environments. Although social species may struggle to adapt quickly to rapid environmental changes, their social structures help them withstand immediate risks. This makes social animals potentially more resistant to extinction under normal conditions.
SOCIAL SPECTRUM AND ANIMAL SURVIVAL: BEYOND SIMPLE CATEGORIES
In past studies, researchers classified social behavior as a binary attribute—either social or non-social. This study, but, recognizes that sociality varies along a continuum. Some animals, like zebras and wildebeests, show intermediate sociality, forming loose, gregarious groups. Others, like certain birds and wasps, live communally or even colonially, building large colonies that share resources.
CONTINUUM OF SOCIALITY IN DIVERSE SPECIES
By looking at social behaviors as a spectrum, this study broadens our understanding of sociality. Group dynamics range from simple gatherings to complex social structures. This highlights the different ways animals rely on one another for survival. The researchers analyzed data from the COMADRE Animal Matrix Database. This database includes life history traits for a wide range of species.
POST-COVID INSIGHTS: BENEFITS OF SOCIALITY ON HEALTH
Associate Professor Rob Salguero-Gómez, the study’s lead author, emphasizes the relevance of sociality to human health in a post-COVID world. Humans are among the most social species. They experienced the effects of isolation during the pandemic. This underscores how social bonds can impact well-being. The study suggests that humans, like many animals, gain longevity and reproductive benefits from social connections.
CLIMATE CHANGE AND SOCIAL SPECIES: FUTURE RESEARCH DIRECTIONS
The Oxford team plans to expand this research to understand how sociality affects species under climate change pressures. Future studies will integrate new data with lab experiments to determine if social species are better equipped to withstand climate changes. They aim to assess whether the resilience seen in stable environments carries over to rapidly changing climates.
NEW FINDINGS EXPECTED ON SOCIALITY AND CLIMATE RESILIENCE
As environmental threats grow, understanding how social species respond is essential. The research group is enhancing their database to support ongoing studies on how social animals cope with ecological shifts.
KEY TAKEAWAYS: SOCIALITY’S ROLE IN ANIMAL LONGEVITY AND REPRODUCTIVE SUCCESS
This study is a groundbreaking step toward understanding sociality’s role across species. Key findings include:
- Social species live longer and reproduce over extended times.
- Senescence is affected by sociality, with social structures sometimes slowing aging.
- Social support can give resilience in stable environments, although adaptation to sudden changes may be limited.
The findings from Oxford’s study contribute valuable insights to evolutionary biology and ecology. Social structures help species across a spectrum, from simple groups to complex colonies. This understanding now equips researchers to better predict animal resilience in future environments.
