Behavioral biology: All in one | nd-aktuell.de

The goose is actually the born victim. Humans, wolves, eagles, foxes – all enemies against whom she has little chance. But sometimes everything turns out completely differently. This is what happened more than 60 years ago when behavioral scientist Konrad Lorenz observed a fox approaching geese. The poultry flocked together and formed a mob, so to speak, to drive away the predator. Lorenz coined the term “mobbing” for this type of concerted action. Later, psychologists used the word to describe typical human behavior patterns, namely psychological terror in the workplace or harassment in the school yard. “You cannot transfer bullying phenomena like those observed in humans one-to-one to the animal kingdom,” says biologist Mario Ludwig from Karlsruhe. Animals bully instinctively. Most of the time it is about defense, protection or defence.

Albinos have a hard time

White elephants are considered lucky charms in Thailand, and white kangaroos are the stars of some zoos. In the wild, however, albino animals that lack color pigments due to a genetic defect have a difficult time. They are easy prey for predators because they lack camouflage and also get sunburned more easily. Not only that: they are also excluded from their peers. Scientists in Uganda observed chimpanzees giving warning calls when they encountered a mother with an albino cub. They later bit the monkey to death. Fish reacted less aggressively, but also anti-socially, to albinos: Czech researchers found that “normal” catfish kept their distance from their pale counterparts. The strikingly white catfish are probably easy for predators to spot. Since they would endanger the entire group, the other fish stay away from them. “Albino animals are often bullied by their peers,” says Ludwig. People suffering from albinism also run the risk of being discriminated against.

No offspring because of all the stress

Naked mole rats not only look extremely strange, but also display strange behavior. Similar to ants or bees, rodents have a strictly organized social system. At the head of the colony, which consists of several dozen animals, is the queen. She is the only one in her state that is fertile and mates with up to three males. The boss uses brutal methods to ensure that she alone can have offspring: she pesters her subordinates so much that they remain infertile. “The females are so stressed that they don’t ovulate,” reports biologist Ludwig. This allows the queen to reproduce alone. Scientists are now using the naked mole rat phenomenon to research stress-related infertility, which also occurs in humans. Biologist Chris Faulkes of Queen Mary University of London found that oppressed naked mole rats quickly mate and have young when they are freed from “dictatorship.”

Together against larger attackers

The Bobbit looks like a horror creature from science fiction: The nocturnal worm, which can grow up to three meters long, buries itself in the seabed and lies in wait for its prey there. With its powerful jaws it quickly grabs its victims, including small fish, and pulls them into its living tube. Researchers at the University of Basel have observed how yellow-tailed snappers outwit the giant worm. If the fish discover the enemy, they proceed as follows: A fish swims to the entrance to the living tube, stands almost vertically and blows sharp blasts of water in the direction of the worm. Other fish come along and attack the bobbit with more bursts of water until it retreats into its cave. This is a tough time for the giant bristleworm: the fish now know its whereabouts and can avoid it, making it difficult for the bobbit to catch prey. Pretty clever, says biologist Daniel Haag-Wackernagel, who made the discovery with his colleague: “Fish are usually completely underestimated in terms of their mental abilities.”

Bullying in the original sense is widespread among birds: songbirds in particular like to join forces to drive away birds of prey or owls. Ornithologists also call the behavior “hate.” Carrion crows and hooded crows are particularly aggressive when they defend their breeding territory from other birds of their own and birds of prey. Troublemakers are then harassed in flight or chased away with alarm calls. Common victims of crow attacks are buzzards. “Attacks include flying at the buzzard from below, above and behind, sometimes even using claws or beaks,” reports bird expert Stefan Bosch from Nabu Baden-Württemberg. But that’s not all: Crows have already been observed throwing twigs or acorns at birds of prey. Thrushes are sometimes even more brutal, spraying their enemies with feces in flight – which can result in the feathers sticking together and the animals dying. But bullies can also fall into the trap: In the past, hunters sometimes used tethered owls to attract and kill “hating” crows etc. That is forbidden today.

All on the weak

In fact, he, the underdog, does exist – and it’s not that rare. Sometimes dog owners have to watch their four-legged friend being chased, nudged or even bitten by other dogs while out for a walk. “Particularly anxious dogs that have either had bad or no experiences with others become victims of bullying,” says behavioral biologist Katrin Runde from the German Animal Welfare Association. Their behavior can provoke attacks: for example, if they run away, other dogs instinctively follow them. In such situations, people are needed. He should offer his bullied animal a safe environment and ensure that it gains trust. Sick dogs and those with disabilities also often have a difficult time because their behavior is perceived as strange. “For wild animals, health is essential for survival, for example for joint hunting success,” explains Runde. Therefore, weak and sick animals are perceived as a danger to the pack.

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