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Following the Dynamics of Structural Variants in Experimentally Evolved Populations
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Direct benefits and evolutionary transitions to complex societies.

Cody J Dey1,2, Constance M O'Connor1, Holly Wilkinson3

  • 1Department of Psychology, Neuroscience, and Behaviour, McMaster University, 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, Ontario L8S 4K1, Canada.

Nature Ecology & Evolution
|August 17, 2017
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Summary

Cooperative breeding in cichlid fish evolved without social monogamy. Instead, group living, biparental care, and diet type drove these transitions, suggesting direct fitness benefits are key.

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Area of Science:

  • Evolutionary biology
  • Animal behavior
  • Ichthyology

Background:

  • Cooperative breeding, a complex social behavior, is hypothesized to evolve with reduced promiscuity, increasing relatedness and kin selection benefits.
  • Ecological factors are also proposed drivers of cooperative breeding, potentially outweighing relatedness in certain environments.
  • Understanding the evolution of cooperation requires evaluating both mating systems and ecological influences.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the evolutionary drivers of cooperative breeding in cichlid fishes.
  • To test the hypotheses linking cooperative breeding to social monogamy versus ecological factors.
  • To determine whether direct or indirect fitness benefits are primary in the evolution of cichlid cooperative breeding.

Main Methods:

  • Phylogenetic comparative analysis incorporating mating behaviors and ecological variables.
  • Explicit evaluation of social structure, parental care, and diet in relation to cooperative breeding transitions.
  • Statistical modeling to assess the influence of different factors on the evolution of cooperative breeding.

Main Results:

  • Evolutionary transitions to cooperative breeding in cichlids were not correlated with social monogamy.
  • Group living, biparental care, and specific diet types were significant predictors of cooperative breeding evolution.
  • These factors directly favored the emergence of cooperative breeding behaviors.

Conclusions:

  • Cichlid fishes provide an alternative evolutionary pathway to complex societies compared to other vertebrates.
  • The evolution of cooperative breeding in cichlids is primarily driven by direct fitness benefits, not necessarily kin selection via monogamy.
  • Ecological factors play a crucial role in shaping the evolution of complex cooperative behaviors.