Kinship reinforces cooperative predator inspection in a cichlid fish |
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| Authors: | Saskia Hesse Jaime M Anaya‐Rojas Joachim G Frommen Timo Thünken |
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| Affiliation: | 1. Institute for Evolutionary Biology and Ecology, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany;2. Department of Fish Ecology and Evolution, Eawag Centre of Ecology, Evolution and Biogeochemistry, Kastanienbaum, Switzerland;3. Department of Aquatic Ecology, Eawag Centre of Ecology, Evolution and Biogeochemistry, Kastanienbaum, Switzerland;4. Department of Behavioural Ecology, Institute for Ecology and Evolution, University of Bern, Hinterkappelen, Switzerland |
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| Abstract: | Kin selection theory predicts that cooperation is facilitated between genetic relatives, as by cooperating with kin an individual might increase its inclusive fitness. Although numerous theoretical papers support Hamilton's inclusive fitness theory, experimental evidence is still underrepresented, in particular in noncooperative breeders. Cooperative predator inspection is one of the most intriguing antipredator strategies, as it implies high costs on inspectors. During an inspection event, one or more individuals leave the safety of a group and approach a potential predator to gather information about the current predation risk. We investigated the effect of genetic relatedness on cooperative predator inspection in juveniles of the cichlid fish Pelvicachromis taeniatus, a species in which juveniles live in shoals under natural conditions. We show that relatedness significantly influenced predator inspection behaviour with kin dyads being significantly more cooperative. Thus, our results indicate a higher disposition for cooperative antipredator behaviour among kin as predicted by kin selection theory. |
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| Keywords: | cooperation inclusive fitness kin recognition kin selection predation tit for tat |
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