Publications
Papers and book chapters, 1998–present.
P.A. Green, D.W.E. Sankey, T. Collins, F. Mwanguhya, H.J. Nichols, M.A. Cant, F.J. Thompson
2025
Animal Behaviour
Fitness incentives to male fighters undermine fighting performance in intergroup contests
Graham Birch, Michael A. Cant, Hazel J. Nichols, Magali Meniri, Robert Businge, Francis Mwanguhya & Jonathan D. Blount
2025
Nature Scientific Reports
Indirect evidence of an early mating advantage in wild cooperatively breeding male banded mongooses
Monil Khera, Kevin Arbuckle, Francis Mwanguhya, Michael A Cant, Hazel J Nichols
2025
Behavioral Ecology
Reproduction is driven by seasonal environmental variation in an equatorial mammal, the banded mongoose (Mungos mungo)
Graham Birch, Hazel J. Nichols, Francis Mwanguhya, Jonathan D. Blount and Michael A. Cant
2025
Royal Society Open Science
Strategic use of male alternative reproductive tactics in cooperatively breeding banded mongoose groups
Graham Birch, Hazel J. Nichols, Francis Mwanguhya, Faye J. Thompson, Michael A. Cant and Jonathan D. Blount
2024
Proceedings of the Royal Society B
Lifetime trajectories of male mating effort under reproductive conflict in a cooperatively breeding mammal
Birch G, Meniri M, Mitchell C, Mwanguhya F, Businge R, Ahabyona S, Nichols HJ, Cant MA, Blount JD
2024
Antioxidants
Variation in Lipid Peroxidation in the Ejaculates of Wild Banded Mongooses (Mungos mungo): A Test of the Oxidative Shielding Hypothesis
C. Shelafoe, F. J. Thompson, F. Mwanguhya, S. Kyabulima, R. Businge, K. Mwesige, J. L. Sanderson, M. A. Cant, H. H. Marshall & E. I. K. Vitikainen
2023
Nature Scientific Reports
Caregiver's cognitive traits are associated with pup fitness in a cooperatively breeding mammal
Monil Khera, Kevin Arbuckle, Francis Mwanguhya, Solomon Kyabulima, Kenneth Mwesige, Robert Businge, Jonathan D. Blount, Michael A. Cant and Hazel J. Nichols
2023
Biology Letters
Small increases in ambient temperature reduce offspring body mass in an equatorial mammal
E. I. K. Vitikainen, M. Meniri, H. H. Marshall, F. J. Thompson, R. Businge, F. Mwanguhya, S. Kyabulima, K. Mwesige, S. Ahabonya, J. L. Sanderson, G. Kalema-Zikusoka, J. I. Hoffman, D. Wells, G. Lewis, S. L. Walker, H. J. Nichols, J. D. Blount and M. A. Cant
2023
Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B
The social formation of fitness: lifetime consequences of prenatal nutrition and postnatal care in a wild mammal population
Green, P., Thompson, F.J., Cant, M.A.
2022
PNAS
Fighting force and experience combine to determine intergroup contest success in a warlike mammal
Samuel Ellis, Rufus A. Johnstone, Michael A. Cant, Daniel W. Franks, Michael N. Weiss, Susan C. Alberts, Kenneth C. Balcomb, Claire H. Benton, Lauren J. N. Brent, Catherine Crockford, Eve Davidian, Richard J. Delahay, David K. Ellifrit, Oliver P. Höner, Magali Meniri, Robbie A. McDonald, Hazel J. Nichols, Faye J. Thompson, Linda Vigilant, Roman M. Wittig, Darren P. Croft
2022
Nature Ecology & Evolution
Patterns and consequences of age-linked change in local relatedness in animal societies
Arasco AG, Manser M, Wtson SK, Kyabulima S, Radford AN, Cant MA, Garcia M
2022
Animal Behaviour
Testing the acoustic adaptation hypothesis with vocalizations from three mongoose species
Meniri, M., Evans, E., Thompson, F.J., Marshall, H.H., Nichols, H.J., Lewis, G., Holt, L., Davey, E., Mitchell, C., Johnstone, R.A. and Cant, M.A.
2022
Ecology and Evolution
Untangling the oxidative cost of reproduction: An analysis in wild banded mongooses
Nichols, H.J., Arbuckle, K., Sanderson, J. L., Vitikainen, E I.K., Marshall, H.H., Thompson, F. J., . . . Wells, D. A.
2021
Ecology Letters
A double pedigree reveals genetic but not cultural inheritance of cooperative personalities in wild banded mongooses
Marshall, H. H., Johnstone, R. A., Thompson, F. J., Nichols, H. J., Wells, D., Hoffman, J. I., . . . Cant, M. A.
2021
Nature Communications
A veil of ignorance can promote fairness in a mammal society
Green, P. A., Briffa, M., & Cant, M. A.
2021
Trends in Ecology and Evolution
Assessment during intergroup contests
Green, P.A., Preston, E.F.R., Nicholl, M.H., Croft, D. P., Thompson, F. J., & Cant, M. A.
2021
Ethology
Collective defence and behavioural homogeneity during simulated territorial intrusions in banded mongooses (Mungos mungo)
Khera, M., Arbuckle, K., Hoffman, J.I., Sanderson, J.L., Cant, M.A., & Nichols, H. J.
2021
Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology
Cooperatively breeding banded mongooses do not avoid inbreeding through familiarity-based kin recognition
Wells, D. A., Cant, M. A., Thompson, F. J., Marshall, H. H., Vitikainen, E. I. K., Hoffman, J. I., & Nichols, H. J.
2021
Behavioural Ecology
Extra-group paternity varies with proxies of relatedness in a social mammal with high inbreeding risk
Croft, D. P., Weiss, M. N., Nielsen, M L.K., Grimes, C., Cant, M. A., Ellis, S., . . . Johnstone, R. A.
2021
Proceedings of the Royal Society B
Kinship dynamics: patterns and consequences of changes in local relatedness
Johnstone, R. A., Cant, M. A., Cram, D., & Thompson, F. J.
2020
PNAS
Exploitative leaders incite intergroup warfare in a social mammal
Wells, D. A., Cant, M. A., Hoffman, J. I., & Nichols, H. J.
2020
Ecology Letters
Inbreeding depresses altruism in a cooperative society
Preston, E. F. R., Thompson, F. J., Ellis, S., Kyambulima, S., Croft, D. P., & Cant, M. A.
2020
Journal of Animal Ecology
Network-level consequences of outgroup threats in banded mongooses: Grooming and aggression between the sexes
Kuijper ALW, Hanson MA, Vitikainen EIK, Marshall HH, Ozanne SE, Cant MA
2019
Proceedings of the Royal Society B
Developing differences: early-life effects and evolutionary medicine
Vitikainen E, Thompson F, Marshall H, Cant MA
2019
Proceedings of the Royal Society B
Live long and prosper: durable benefits of early-life care in banded mongooses
Inzani, E., Marshall, H. H., Thompson, F. J., Kalema-Zikusoka, G., Cant, M. A., & Vitikainen, E. I. K.
2019
Biology Letters
Spontaneous abortion as a response to reproductive conflict in the banded mongoose
Marshall, H. H., Inger, R., Jackson, A. L., McDonald, R. A., Thompson, F. J., & Cant, M. A.
2019
Ecology Letters
Stable isotopes are quantitative indicators of trophic niche
Wells DA, Cant MA, Nichols HJ, Hoffman JI
2018
Molecular Ecology
A high-quality pedigree and genetic markers both reveal inbreeding depression for quality but not survival in a cooperative mammal
Marshall HH, Griffiths DJ, Mwanguhya F, Businge R, Griffiths AGF, Kyabulima S, Mwesige K, Sanderson JL, Thompson FJ, Vitikainen EIK
2018
PLoS One
Data collection and storage in long-term ecological and evolutionary studies: the Mongoose 2000 system
Sheppard CE, Marshall HH, Inger R, Thompson FJ, Vitikainen EIK, Barker S, Nichols HJ, Wells DA, McDonald RA, Cant MA
2018
Current Biology
Decoupling of Genetic and Cultural Inheritance in a Wild Mammal
Sheppard CE, Inger R, McDonald RA, Barker S, Jackson AL, Thompson FJ, Vitikainen EIK, Cant MA, Marshall HH
2018
Ecology Letters
Intragroup competition predicts individual foraging specialisation in a group-living mammal
Mitchell J, Kyabulima S, Businge R, Cant MA, Nichols HJ
2018
Royal Society Open Science
Kin discrimination via odour in the cooperatively breeding banded mongoose
Hares MC, Vitikainen EIK, Marshall HH, Thompson FJ, Blount JD, Cant MA
2018
Experimental Gerontology
Telomere dynamics in wild banded mongooses: Evaluating longitudinal and quasi-longitudinal markers of senescence
Vitikainen EIK, Marshall HH, Thompson FJ, Sanderson JL, Bell MBV, Gilchrist JS, Hodge SJ, Nichols HJ, Cant MA
2017
Proceedings of the Royal Society B
Biased escorts: offspring sex, not relatedness explains alloparental care patterns in a cooperative breeder
Thompson FJ, Marshall HH, Vitikainen EIK, Cant MA
2017
Animal Behaviour
Causes and consequences of intergroup conflict in cooperative banded mongooses
Thompson FJ, Cant MA, Marshall HH, Vitikainen EIK, Sanderson JL, Nichols HJ, Gilchrist JS, Bell MBV, Young AJ, Hodge SJ, Johnstone, RA
2017
PNAS
Explaining negative kin discrimination in a cooperative mammal society
Thompson FJ, Marshall HH, Vitikainen EIK, Young AJ, Cant MA
2017
Animal Behaviour
Individual and demographic consequences of mass eviction in cooperative banded mongooses
Marshall HH, Vitikainen EIK, Mwanguhya F, Businge R, Kyabulima S, Hares MC, Inzani E, Kalema-Zikusoka G, Mwesige K, Nichols HJ, Sanderson JL, Tomspon, FJ, Cant, MA
2017
Ecology and Evolution
Lifetime fitness consequences of early-life ecological hardship in a wild mammal population
Mitchell J, Cant MA, Nichols HJ
2017
Biology Letters
Pregnancy is detected via odour in a wild cooperative breeder
Mitchell J, Cant MA, Vitikainen EIK, Nichols HJ
2017
Current Zoology
Smelling fit: scent marking exposes parasitic infection status in the banded mongoose
Blount, J. D., Vitikainen, E. I. K., Stott, I., Cant, M. A.
2016/5
Biological Reviews
Oxidative shielding and the cost of reproduction
Vitikainen, E. I. K., Cant, M. A., Sanderson, J. L., Mitchell, C., Nichols, H. J., Marshall, H. H., Blount, J. D.
2016
Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution
Evidence of oxidative shielding of offspring in a wild mammal
Marshall, H. H., Sanderson, J. L., Mwanghuya, F., Businge, R., Kyabulima, S., Hares, M. C., Cant, M. A.
2016
Behavioural Ecology
Variable ecological conditions promote male helping by changing banded mongoose group composition
Sanderson, J. L., Cant, M. A., Nichols, H. J.
2015/11/1
Behavioural Ecology
Adjustment of costly extra-group paternity according to inbreeding risk in a cooperative mammal
Sanderson, J. L., Stott, I., Young, A. J., Vitikainen, E., Hodge, S. J., Cant, M. A.
2015/9/1
Animal Behaviour
The origins of consistent individual differences in cooperation in wild banded mongooses
Sanderson, J. L., Wang, J., Vitikainen, E. I. K., Cant, M. A., Nichols, H. J.
2015/6/11
Molecular Ecology
Banded mongooses avoid inbreeding when mating with members of the same group
Cant, M. A.
2015/4/10
The International Encyclopedia of Human Sexuality
Reproductive suppression
Nichols, H. J., Cant, M. A., Hoffman, J., Sanderson, J.
2014/12/31
Biology Letters
Evidence for frequent incest in a cooperatively breeding mammal
Sanderson, J. L., Young, A. J., Hodge, S. J., Kyabulima, S., Walker, S. L., Cant, M. A.
2014/12
Functional Ecology
Hormonal mediation of a carry-over effect in a wild cooperative mammal
Bell, M. B. V., Cant, M. A., Borgeaud, C., Thavarajah, N., Samson, J., Clutton-Brock, T. H.
2014/7/22
Nature Communications
Suppressing subordinate reproduction provides benefits to dominants in cooperative societies of meerkats
Cant, M. A., Nichols, H. J., Johnstone, R. A., Hodge, S. J.
2014/1/7
PNAS
Policing of reproduction by hidden threats in a cooperative mammal
Cant, M. A., Young, A. J.
2013/12/5
Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B
Resolving social conflict among females without overt aggression
Jansen, D. A. W. A. M., Cant, M. A., Manser, M. B.
2013/11
Journal of Zoology
Testing for vocal individual discrimination in adult banded mongooses
Port, M., Cant, M. A.
2013/10/23
Biology Letters
Longevity suppresses conflict in animal societies
Cant, M. A., Vitikainen, E., Nichols, H. J.
2013/1/1
Advances in the Study of Behaviour
Demography and social evolution of banded mongooses
Jansen, D. A., Cant, M. A., Manser, M. B.
2012/12
BMC Biology
Segmental concatenation of individual signatures and context cues in banded mongoose (Mungos mungo) close calls
Nichols, J. J., Jordan, N. R., Jamie, G. A., Cant, M. A., Hoffman, J. I.
2012/11
Molecular Ecology
Fine-scale spatiotemporal patterns of genetic variation reflect budding dispersal coupled with strong natal philopatry in a cooperatively breeding mammal
Cant, M. A.
2012/8/9
Cooperative breeding systems
Nichols, H. J., Amos, W., Bell, M. B. V., Mwanguhya, F., Kyabulima, S., Cant, M. A.
2012/6/1
Animal Behaviour
Food availability shapes patterns of helping effort in a cooperative mongoose
Nichols, H. J., Bell, M. B. B., Hodge, S. J., Cant, M. A.
2012/5/1
Behavioral Ecology
Resource limitation moderates the adaptive suppression of subordinate breeding in a cooperatively breeding mongoose
McAuliffe, K., Thornton, A.
2012/3/26
Behavioural Processes
How do banded mongoose locate and select anvils for cracking encased food items?
Johnstone, R. A., Cant, M. A., Field, J.
2012/2/22
Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B
Sex-biased dispersal, haplodiploidy and the evolution of helping in social insects
Cant, M. A.
2012/2/1
The American Naturalist
Suppression of social conflict and evolutionary transitions to cooperation
Furrer, R. D., Kunc, H. P., Manser, M.B.
2012
Behavioural Ecology
Variable initiators of group departure in a cooperative breeder: the influence of sex, age, state and foraging success
Bell, M. B. V., Nichols, H. J., Gilchrist, J. S., Cant, M. A., Hodge, S. J.
2011/7/13
Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B
The cost of dominance: suppressing subordinate reproduction affects the reproductive success of dominant female banded mongooses
Abbot, P., Abe, J., Alcock, J., Alizon, S., Alpedrinha, J. A., Andersson, M., Andre, J. B., van Baalen, M., Balloux, F., Balshine, S.
2011/3/22
Nature Brief Communications Arising
Inclusive fitness theory and eusociality
Furrer, R., Kyabulima, S., Willems, E., Cant, M. A., Manser, M.
2011/3/9
Behavioural Ecology
Location and group size influence decisions in simulated inter-group encounters in banded mongooses
Jordan, N. R., Manser, M. B., Mwanguhya, F., Kyabulima, S., Ruedi, P., Cant, M. A.
2011/1/1
Animal Behaviour
Scent marking in wild banded mongooses: 1. Sex-specific scent & overmarking
Jordan, N. R., Furrer, R., Kyabulima, S., Ruedi, P., Cant, M. A.
2011/1/1
Animal Behaviour
Scent marking in wild banded mongooses: 2. Intrasexual marking and competition between males
Jordan, N. R., Mwanguhya, S., Reudi, P., Cant, M. A.
2011/1/1
Animal Behaviour
Scent marking in wild banded mongooses: 3. Intrasexual marking in females
Nichols, H. J., Amos, W., Cant, M. A., MBV, B., Hodge, S. J.
2010/10
Animal Behaviour
Top males gain high reproductive success by guarding more successful females in a cooperatively breeding mongoose
Bell, M. B. V.
2010/9/1
Behavioral Ecology
Sex and age influence responses to changes in the cost of cooperative care in a social carnivore
Cant, M. A.
2010/8/20
Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B
The role of threats in animal cooperation
Hodge, S. J., Bell, M. B. V., Cant, M. A.
2010/8/4
Biology Letters
Reproductive competition and the evolution of extreme birth synchrony in a cooperative mammal
Muller, C. A., Cant, M. A.
2010/7/13
Current Biology
Imitation and traditions in wild banded mongooses
Cant, M. A., Hodge, S. J., Bell, M. B. V., Gilchrist, J. S., Nichols, H. J.
2010/3/17
Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B
Reproductive control via eviction (but not the threat of eviction) in banded mongooses
Mueller, C. A.
2010/3
Animal Cognition
Do anvil-using banded mongooses understand means-end relationships? A field experiment
Jordan, N. R., Mwanguhya, F., Kyabulima, S., Ruedi, P., Cant, M. A.
2010/1
Journal of Zoology
Scent marking within and between groups in banded mongooses
Johnstone, R. A., Cant, M. A.
2009/8
Models of reproductive skew – outside options and the resolution of reproductive conflict
Furrer, R. D., Manser, M. B.
2009/7
Animal Behaviour
Banded mongoose recruitment calls convey information about risk and not stimulus type
Muller, C. A., Bell, M. B. V.
2009/7
Mammalian Biology
Kidnapping and infanticide between groups of banded mongooses
Cant, M. A., Johnstone, R. A.
2009/6
The American Naturalist
How threats influence the evolutionary resolution of within-group conflict
Hodge, S. J., Bell, M. B. V., Mwanhuya, F., Kyabulima, S., Waldick, R., Russell, A. F.
2009/5/11
Behavioral Ecology
Maternal weight, offspring competition and the evolution of communal breeding
Cant MA, Johnstone RA, Russell AF
2009
Reproductive conflict and the evolution of menopause in killer whales
Gilchrist, J. S.
2008/7/22
Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B
Aggressive monoplization of mobile carers by young of a cooperative breeder
Muller, C. A., Manser, M. B.
2008/5
Animal Behaviour
Mutual recognition of pups and providers in the cooperatively breeding banded mongoose
Bell, M. B. V.
2008/3/10
Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B
Strategic adjustment of begging effort by banded mongoose pups
Muller, C. A., Manser, M. B.
2008/3
Animal Behaviour
The information banded mongooses extract from heterospecific alarm calls
Gilchrist, J. S., Otali, E., Mwanghuya, F.
2008/2/13
Journal of Zoology
Caregivers recognise and bias response towards individual young in a cooperative breeding mammal the banded mongoose
Muller, C. A., Manser, M. B.
2008/1/14
Ethology
Scent-marking and intrasexual competition in a cooperative carnivore with low reproductive skew
Cant, M. A.
2008
Make way for team mongoose
Johnstone, R. A., Cant, M. A.
2008
The American Naturalist
Sex differences in dispersal and the evolution of helping and harming behavior
Buston, P. M., Reeve, H. K., Cant, M. A., Vehrencamp, S. L., Emien, S. T.
2007/12
Animal Behaviour
Reproductive skew and the evolution of group dissolution tactics: a synthesis of concession and restraint models
Hodge, S. J.
2007/10
Animal Behaviour
Counting the costs: the evolution of male-biased care in the cooperative breeding banded mongoose
Gilchrist, J. S., Russell, A. F.
2007/1/30
Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology
Who cares? Individual contributions to pup care by breeders vs non-breeders in the cooperatively breeding banded mongoose (Mungos Mungo)
Muller, C. A., Manser, M. B.
2007/1/16
Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B
Nasty neighbours’ rather than ‘dear enemies’ in a social carnivore
Cant, M. A.
2007
Banded mongooses: a life of cooperation and conflict
Cant, M. A., Johnstone, R. A.
2006/9/1
Journal of Evolutionary Biology
Self-serving punishment and the evolution of cooperation
Cant, M. A., English, S., Reeve, H. K., Field, J.
2006/8/31
Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B
Escalated conflict in a social hierarchy
Gilchrist, J. S.
2006/7/26
Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology
Reproductive success in a low skew, communal breeding mammal: the banded mongoose, Mungos mungo
Gilchrist, J. S.
2006/7
Behavioral Ecology
Female eviction, abortion, and infanticide in banded mongooses (Mungos mungo): implications for social control for reproduction and synchronized parturition
Cant, M. A., English, S.
2006/7
Behavioral Ecology
Stable group size in cooperative breeders: the role of inheritance and reproductive skew
Buston, P. M., Cant, M. A.
2006/6/23
Oecologia
A new perspective on fish size hierarchies: patterns, causes, and consequences
Cant, M. A.
2006/2
Animal Behaviour
A tale of two theories: parent-offspring conflict and reproductive skew
Cant, M. A., Shen, S-F.
2005/11/1
Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B
Endogenous timing and competitive interactions among relatives
Hodge, S. J.
2005/9/29
Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B
Helpers benefit offspring in both the short and long-term in the cooperatively breeding banded mongoose
Cant, M. A., Field, J.
2005/7
Behavioral Ecology
Helping effort in a dominance hierarchy
Gilchrist, J. S., Otali, E., Mwanghuya, F.
2004/9/23
Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology
Why breed communally? Factors affecting fecundity in a communal breeding mammal: the banded mongoose (Mungos mungo)
Otali, E., Gilchrist, J. S.
2004/6/1
Journal of Mammalogy
The effects of refuse feeding on body condition, reproduction, and survival of banded mongooses
Waldick, R. C., Johnson, P., Pemberton, J.
2003/3/4
Molecular Ecology Notes
Indentification and characterization of 14 polymorphic microsatellite loci for a member of the Herprestidae (Mungos mungo)
Cant, M. A.
2003/2/17
Journal of Zoology
Patterns of helping effort in co-operatively breeding banded mongooses (Mungos mungo)
Cant, M. A., Reeve, H. K.
2002/11
The American Naturalist
Female control of paternity in cooperative breeders
Gilchrist, J. S., Otali, E.
2002/10
Canadian Journal of Zoology
The effects of refuse-feeding on home-range use, group size, and intergroup encounters in the banded mongoose
Cant, M. A., Otali, E., Mwanguhya, F.
2002/6/6
Ethology
Fighting and mating between groups in a cooperatively breeding mammal, the banded mongoose
Cant, M. A., Field, J.
2001/9/22
Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B
Helping effort and future fitness in cooperative animal societies
Cant, M. A., Otali, E., Mwanguhya, F.
2001/6/14
Journal of Zoology
Eviction and dispersal in co-operatively breeding banded mongooses (Mungos mungo)
Cant, M. A., Johnstone, R. A.
2000/3
The American Naturalist
Power struggles, dominance testing, and reproductive skew
Cant, M. A.
2000/1
Animal Behaviour
Social control of reproduction in banded mongooses
Cant, M. A., Johnstone, R. A.
1999/3
Behavioral Ecology
Costly young and reproductive skew in animal societies
Johnstone, R. A., Woodroffe, R., Cant, M. A., Wright, J.
1999/3
The American Naturalist
Reproductive skew in multi-member groups
Johnstone, R. A., Cant, M. A.
1999/2/7
Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B
Reproductive skew and the threat of eviction: a new perspective
Johnstone, R. A., Cant, M. A.
1999/1
Animal Behaviour
Indiscriminate infanticide and reproductive skew
Cant, M. A.
1998
Animal Behaviour
A model for the evolution of reproductive skew without reproductive suppression