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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Nov 17, 2025

The HoneyComb Paradigm for Research on Collective Human Behavior

The HoneyComb Paradigm for Research on Collective Human Behavior

Published on: January 19, 2019

Group size increases inequality in cooperative behaviour.

Shay Rotics^1,2, Tim Clutton-Brock^1,2,3

¹Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge CB2 3EJ, UK.

Proceedings. Biological Sciences

|February 17, 2021

Summary

In larger meerkat groups, increased workload inequality and free riding were observed. This inequality in cooperative behavior negatively impacted pup provisioning, growth, and survival.

Keywords:

animal cooperation cooperative breeding free riding group size inequality meerkat

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Area of Science:

Behavioral Ecology
Sociobiology
Evolutionary Biology

Background:

Cooperative breeding involves shared offspring care, with group size often reducing individual contributions.
The impact of group size on workload distribution among helpers remains unclear.
Collective action theory predicts increased free riding and inequality in larger groups.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate how group size affects workload distribution in cooperative breeding.
To test the prediction of collective action theory regarding inequality and free riding.
To assess the consequences of workload inequality on pup provisioning and development.

Main Methods:

Studied wild Kalahari meerkats (Suricata suricatta) in varying group sizes.
Utilized the Gini index to quantify inequality in cooperative behaviors (babysitting, pup-provisioning, raised guarding).
Analyzed the relationship between group size, inequality, free riding, provisioning, and pup outcomes.

Main Results:

Larger meerkat groups exhibited increased inequality in helper contributions and higher rates of free riding.
Inequality in contributions was partly driven by differences across sex and age categories in larger groups.
Greater inequality in contributions correlated with reduced total pup-provisioning, impacting pup growth and survival.

Conclusions:

Findings support collective action theory's predictions on increased inequality in larger cooperative groups.
The Gini index effectively measures the distribution of cooperative effort within social groups.
Workload inequality in cooperative breeding can have significant negative consequences for offspring.