Phys.Org: UC biologist discusses 100 years of dominance hierarchies
UC assistant professor Elizabeth Hobson co-edited a journal issue dedicated to pecking orders
Phys.Org highlighted a special journal issue dedicated to 100 years of research in dominance hierarchies co-edited by a University of Cincinnati biologist.
UC assistant professor Elizabeth Hobson co-edited a special issue of the journal Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B dedicated to dominance hierarchies. Photo/Andrew Higley/UC Creative + Brand
UC College of Arts and Sciences assistant professor Elizabeth Hobson contributed to three articles in the journal Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B, including an analysis of the past 50 years of research in dominance hierarchies or pecking orders.
Hobson has studied how monk parakeets quarrel with competitors closest in status to cement their positions rather than wasting effort fighting the lowest-ranking members of the colony.
"In the parakeets I work with, we don't find a strong correlation between size and dominance. Instead, individuals may need to recognize their rivals and remember past fights and outcomes to come up with a mental model of rank," she said. "That's a very different cognitive task than choosing to fight an opponent simply because it is slightly smaller than you."
Hobson's students will begin a new study in her lab this year looking at dominance hierarchies and other behavior in northern bobwhite quail.
Featured image at top: University of Cincinnati biologist Elizabeth Hobson and her students study the behavior of gregarious monk parakeets. Photo/Michael Miller
Related Stories
'There's a strong community here:' UC transfer student finds place in College of Arts and Sciences
October 23, 2026
This week marks National Transfer Students Week, and the College of Arts and Sciences celebrated those students Thursday. Olivia White, assistant director of recruitment, said around 13-15% of students at UC are transfer students, and with that comes its own set of challenges.
UC expert explains potential impact of Pennsylvania’s new vape product law
October 22, 2026
UC professor Ashley Merianos speaks to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette about Pennsylvania’s new vape law, youth vaping prevention, enforcement challenges and possible unintended consequences.
Still the top ‘cat
October 20, 2026
The University of Cincinnati Bearcat mascot was voted Cincinnati’s favorite mascot in a Cincinnati Enquirer reader poll, earning 45.1% of the vote and topping other local favorites.