Naked mole-rats are unique among mammals for their eusociality. Scientists were recently given the chance to study these mesmerizing creatures, revealing their intricate social hierarchies and elaborate rituals. Japan’s Tohoku University research team recently conducted a groundbreaking investigation. They equipped 102 naked mole-rats in five colonies with their high-tech tracking devices to determine what they were up to. Masanori Yamakawa and colleagues detail their results in the journal Science Advances. Through their extensive research, we’re learning about the intricate social dynamics of these amazing creatures.
Naked mole-rats have historically been a challenge for researchers, as they can only be studied in underground habitats. Watching all individuals in a colony at once for long periods of time has been difficult when in their natural environment. The innovative research team addressed this limitation by creating a controlled laboratory environment, enabling extensive monitoring of the naked mole-rats’ behaviors and interactions.
Innovative Research Methodology
To do their work, the research team created five different types of burrows in the laboratory. Each burrow was made up of nine chambers connected to one another. This arrangement recreated the exact underground homes of naked mole-rats and still offered researchers a close-up view. Using an automated Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tracking system, the team monitored the movements and social interactions of the naked mole-rats effectively.
This RFID system allowed researchers to collect long-term data on individual behaviors within the colonies at all hours of the day and night. To address this lack of transparency, they fused RFID tracking with image-based tracking technologies. In doing so, they identified seven different behavioral phenotypes within the naked mole-rats. This classification represented one phenotype for breeders and six for nonbreeders, demonstrating the division of labor inside the colonies.
The original study found two interesting clusters of nonbreeding individuals. Cluster 1 consisted of the most mobile sociopaths, who frequently filled garbage pods. This peculiar behavior is an indication that they might serve as transport specialists among their colonies. Cluster 4 was mostly low-mobility individuals who remained in nonfunctional chambers. This implies that their overriding concern should be to address the risks of digging.
Social Interactions and Behavioral Dynamics
Their research uncovered that highly mobile nonbreeders from Cluster 1 garnered a large social media following among their same-aged peers. This tendency points toward an incredible instance of social influence and leadership among the colonies. These dynamics create a strong sense of cooperation among naked mole-rat societies. People rely on each other not only to survive, but to thrive, and function properly as a society.
Intriguingly, the study was able to document playful interactions occurring between naked mole-rats. Examples of aggressive interactions in the form of play fighting between two nonbreeders were documented, most frequently during follow events. These light hearted frolicsome activities are integral to building and maintaining the social fabric of a community. Beyond aesthetics, they’re essential for creating hierarchy and determining roles among the crew.
The results of this study served to underscore the complexity and diversity of social behaviors exhibited by the naked mole-rat. Their contributions and their roles extend well beyond simply living. They vigorously scrub toilets, pulling at tails, every bit protecting the integrity and sanitation of their latrine-lined tunnel networks. This complexity highlights the importance of further examining how and under what environmental contexts these roles change.
Implications for Future Research
The study’s revolutionary use of automated tracking technology from other sectors paves the way for exciting future research into naked mole-rat behavior. By combining RFID with image-based tracking, researchers will be able to reveal new layers of complexity to these mammals’ social lives. Plus, generalizing to more racially diverse groups can take their results a step further.
Naked mole-rats present interesting opportunities to study their social complexity, all while deepening our appreciation for this one-of-a-kind species. It provides new perspectives on the evolutionary routes to eusociality in mammals. This study isn’t exclusive to naked mole-rats. It allows researchers to uncover new clues to the moral ecosystems and social fabric that could be at play in other species.