Market forces influence helping behaviour in cooperatively breeding paper wasps
1School of Life Sciences, University of Sussex, John Maynard Smith Building, Falmer, Brighton BN1 9QG, UK.
Nature Communications
|January 25, 2017
Summary
Biological market theory explains animal helping behavior. In paper wasps, increased competition for partners lowered the "price" of group membership, validating market principles.
Area of Science:
- Behavioral Ecology
- Evolutionary Biology
- Animal Social Behavior
Background:
- Biological market theory suggests competition influences exchange value in animal societies.
- Previous studies on cooperative breeders lacked consideration of 'outside options'.
- Paper wasps (Polistes dominula) provide a model for studying social exchange.
Purpose of the Study:
- To test biological market theory in paper wasps, specifically the role of outside options.
- To investigate how manipulating the availability of cooperative partners affects helping behavior.
- To determine if subordinates' contributions decrease when competition for dominants intensifies.
Main Methods:
- Demonstrated that female paper wasps have multiple cooperative partner choices.
- Manipulated subpopulations to increase subordinates' outside options (nesting spots, partners).
- Observed changes in subordinates' foraging effort as an indicator of contribution to the group.
Main Results:
- Females were shown to have a choice of cooperative partners.
- Increased availability of outside options led to reduced foraging effort by subordinates.
- This indicates dominants accepted a lower 'price' for group membership under increased competition.
Conclusions:
- Biological market theory, including outside options, is supported in paper wasp societies.
- Social units must be analyzed within their broader market context for accurate predictions of cooperation.
- The availability of alternative partners significantly influences the dynamics of helping behavior.
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