Dom Cram
@domcram.bsky.social
Lecturer in Ecology at the University of East Anglia. Views my own.
(8/8) Overall: higher food availability drives faster gestational weight gains, producing chonky, healthy pups.
Social factors have no effect - surprising because after birth, growth IS adjusted to rivals in meerkats and other social mammals.
Thanks for reading, follow for more meerkat science!
Social factors have no effect - surprising because after birth, growth IS adjusted to rivals in meerkats and other social mammals.
Thanks for reading, follow for more meerkat science!
February 5, 2026 at 12:57 PM
(8/8) Overall: higher food availability drives faster gestational weight gains, producing chonky, healthy pups.
Social factors have no effect - surprising because after birth, growth IS adjusted to rivals in meerkats and other social mammals.
Thanks for reading, follow for more meerkat science!
Social factors have no effect - surprising because after birth, growth IS adjusted to rivals in meerkats and other social mammals.
Thanks for reading, follow for more meerkat science!
(7/8) And what about those adorable pups?
Faster weight gains during pregnancy produced heavier pups. Pups' rapid prenatal growth did not shorten their telomeres (a marker of cellular stress), so heavier pups were more likely to survive to adulthood. In meerkats, growing fast in utero pays off!
Faster weight gains during pregnancy produced heavier pups. Pups' rapid prenatal growth did not shorten their telomeres (a marker of cellular stress), so heavier pups were more likely to survive to adulthood. In meerkats, growing fast in utero pays off!
February 5, 2026 at 12:57 PM
(7/8) And what about those adorable pups?
Faster weight gains during pregnancy produced heavier pups. Pups' rapid prenatal growth did not shorten their telomeres (a marker of cellular stress), so heavier pups were more likely to survive to adulthood. In meerkats, growing fast in utero pays off!
Faster weight gains during pregnancy produced heavier pups. Pups' rapid prenatal growth did not shorten their telomeres (a marker of cellular stress), so heavier pups were more likely to survive to adulthood. In meerkats, growing fast in utero pays off!
(6/8) What about social effects on pregnancies?
Meerkats are cooperative AND competitive, and females often kill rivals' pups. We asked whether this intense social environment shapes pregnancies. Surprisingly, it didn't! Gestational growth and birth timing were unchanged by social conditions.
Meerkats are cooperative AND competitive, and females often kill rivals' pups. We asked whether this intense social environment shapes pregnancies. Surprisingly, it didn't! Gestational growth and birth timing were unchanged by social conditions.
February 5, 2026 at 12:57 PM
(6/8) What about social effects on pregnancies?
Meerkats are cooperative AND competitive, and females often kill rivals' pups. We asked whether this intense social environment shapes pregnancies. Surprisingly, it didn't! Gestational growth and birth timing were unchanged by social conditions.
Meerkats are cooperative AND competitive, and females often kill rivals' pups. We asked whether this intense social environment shapes pregnancies. Surprisingly, it didn't! Gestational growth and birth timing were unchanged by social conditions.
(5/8) How do environmental factors affect pregnancies? ☀️🌧️
As expected, rain and greater food availability 🐛🦂 were correlated with rapid weight gains. We confirmed this by experimentally feeding mothers a daily hard boiled egg (their favourite!). Fed mothers gained weight much faster than controls.
As expected, rain and greater food availability 🐛🦂 were correlated with rapid weight gains. We confirmed this by experimentally feeding mothers a daily hard boiled egg (their favourite!). Fed mothers gained weight much faster than controls.
February 5, 2026 at 12:57 PM
(5/8) How do environmental factors affect pregnancies? ☀️🌧️
As expected, rain and greater food availability 🐛🦂 were correlated with rapid weight gains. We confirmed this by experimentally feeding mothers a daily hard boiled egg (their favourite!). Fed mothers gained weight much faster than controls.
As expected, rain and greater food availability 🐛🦂 were correlated with rapid weight gains. We confirmed this by experimentally feeding mothers a daily hard boiled egg (their favourite!). Fed mothers gained weight much faster than controls.
(4/8) We found (as expected) lots of variation and a two-phase pregnancy: an initial flat phase and a second steady growth phase.
February 5, 2026 at 12:57 PM
(4/8) We found (as expected) lots of variation and a two-phase pregnancy: an initial flat phase and a second steady growth phase.
(3/8) To find out, we weighed 381 females every 2 days through their ~75-day pregnancies (>12,000 weights!). We used ultrasound scanners to count in utero litter sizes, scanning the mum's belly while she sunned herself in the morning. Here's a clip of a 1-inch long fetus. Look at his little heart 💓
February 5, 2026 at 12:57 PM
(3/8) To find out, we weighed 381 females every 2 days through their ~75-day pregnancies (>12,000 weights!). We used ultrasound scanners to count in utero litter sizes, scanning the mum's belly while she sunned herself in the morning. Here's a clip of a 1-inch long fetus. Look at his little heart 💓
(2/8) We wondered whether mothers conceal or accelerate their pregnancies to avoid conflict with rival females in the group. This conflict can be fatal!
We also predicted that food availability would dictate growth patterns (gestating pups is hungry work!).
We also predicted that food availability would dictate growth patterns (gestating pups is hungry work!).
February 5, 2026 at 12:57 PM
(2/8) We wondered whether mothers conceal or accelerate their pregnancies to avoid conflict with rival females in the group. This conflict can be fatal!
We also predicted that food availability would dictate growth patterns (gestating pups is hungry work!).
We also predicted that food availability would dictate growth patterns (gestating pups is hungry work!).