Is sociality driven by the costs of dispersal or the benefits of philopatry? A role for kin-discrimination mechanisms

Citation
N. Perrin et L. Lehmann, Is sociality driven by the costs of dispersal or the benefits of philopatry? A role for kin-discrimination mechanisms, AM NATURAL, 158(5), 2001, pp. 471-483
Citations number
42
Language
INGLESE
art.tipo
Article
Categorie Soggetti
Environment/Ecology
Journal title
AMERICAN NATURALIST
ISSN journal
0003-0147 → ACNP
Volume
158
Issue
5
Year of publication
2001
Pages
471 - 483
Database
ISI
SICI code
0003-0147(200111)158:5<471:ISDBTC>2.0.ZU;2-G
Abstract
The role of ecological constraints in promoting sociality is currently much debated. Using a direct-fitness approach, we show this role to depend on t he kin-discrimination mechanisms underlying social interactions. Altruism c annot evolve under spatially based discrimination, unless ecological constr aints prevent complete dispersal. Increasing constraints enhances both the proportion of philopatric (and thereby altruistic) individuals and the leve l of altruistic investments conceded in pairwise interactions. Familiarity- based discrimination, by contrast, allows philopatry and altruism to evolve at significant levels even in the absence of ecological constraints. Incre asing constraints further enhances the proportion of philopatric (and there by altruistic) individuals but not the level of altruism conceded. Ecologic al constraints are thus more likely to affect social evolution in species i n which restricted cognitive abilities, large group size, and/or limited pe riod of associative learning force investments to be made on the basis of s patial cues.