PhD defence Lauren Seex

Lauren Seex (TRÊS)

Promotores: Prof. C.K. Hemelrijk, Prof. P. Kappeler (University of Goettingen); copromotor: Dr C. Fichtel University of Goettingen)

The self-organisation of lemur social systems

In my PhD research, I wanted to understand why females are dominant over males in many species of lemur and why female dominance is stronger in some species than in others. I approached this topic through the lens of self-organisation, which posits that complex behaviours can emerge from simple interactions. By studying three lemur species differing in their degree of female dominance, I discovered that factors such as spatial proximity and competition for resources are pivotal in shaping dominance hierarchies. Using computational models, I showed how food distribution influences spatial cohesion, interaction frequency, and the extent of female dominance. Additionally, I studied existing measures of intersexual dominance and showed which measures were most accurate and robust encouraging their use in future studies of intersexual dominance in other animals. My research combines both empirical and theoretical approaches to lemur behavior and highlights the importance of considering self-organisation when studying social dynamics.

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