Project descriptionAnimal behavior is most often studied during periods of activity, yet much less is known about what animals do when they sleep. Sleep plays a crucial role in numerous physiological processes, and in social species, sleeping together can provide several benefits, including improved thermoregulation and protection from predators. However, sleeping in close proximity may also lead to disturbances, potentially reducing the quality and quantity of sleep.
White-nosed coatis live in cohesive social groups where there is variation in the social relationships between group members. They spend most of the day foraging on the forest floor and at night they sleep together in trees. However, little is known about their social interactions during sleep or how their varying relationships influence their sleep patterns. For the first time, accelerometery data are available for all members of three wild white-nosed coati groups, collected across day and night. These data provide a unique opportunity to investigate the potential costs and benefits of sleeping together.
In this project, the student will use accelerometery data to explore how social relationships shape sleep quality and quantity, and how group composition influences sleeping behavior in this social species.
Who can apply?
The project is open to BSc students
Who should I contact?
Emily Grout and Meg Crofoot, Department for the Ecology of Animal Societies
