Sociality - Kinship

Question 1

What are the 2 sections of kinship theory

Answer 1

1. Inclusive fitness and relatedness

2. Family dynamics

Question 2

Define relatedness

Answer 2

Probability that individuals share copies of alleles inherited from a common ancestor

Question 3

Define inclusive fitness

Answer 3

Measure of total fitness based on the number of offspring and the contribution made to the reproductive success of relatives

Question 4

What is Hamilton’s rule

Answer 4

Rb>c
R= relatedness
B= benefit 
C= cost
Decision to help is based on how related you are and if the benefits outweigh the costs

Question 5

What are the 3 aspects of family dynamics

Answer 5

1. Family grouping is unstable when there are reproductive opportunities elsewhere
2. Families with high quality resources are more stable
3. Cooperative breeding is stronger when between close relatives

Question 6

Give an example of cooperative breeding and family dynamics

Answer 6

Honeybees
Eggs laid by queen produce a pheremone
Worker bees destroy worker laid eggs as they are less related to them than queen laid eggs

Question 7

Give 2 examples of conflict with families

Answer 7

1. Parent offspring conflict

2. Sibling rivalry

Question 8

What is parent offspring conflict

Answer 8

How much aid is given to a particular offspring

Can cause a zone of conflict - each sibling is equally important to parents inclusive fitness. How much parent gives to offspring and how much offspring want may be different

Question 9

Give an example of parent offspring conflict

Answer 9

Primates

Greater conflict in polyandrous mating societies - all offspring have different genetic relatedness
Natural selection favours offspring that take more parental assistance

Question 10

What is sibling rivalry

Answer 10

Aggression towards siblings

Greater when there are fewer resources as more related to self than a sibling

Question 11

Give an example of sibling rivalry

Answer 11

Egrets

Competition for food
Age related dominance hierarchy
Larger the chick, better position in nest and more food

Question 12

What are 2 models of kin recognition

Answer 12

1. Matching model

2. Rule of thumb model

Question 13

What is the matching model

Answer 13

See if an individual is kin by assessing their internal template

Use chemical and behavioural cues e.g tadpoles prefer associating with kin

Use MHC - use odor to determine kin

Question 14

What is the rule of thumb model

Answer 14

If an animal lives in the same territory or nest treat it as kin

Question 15

What is a problem with the rule of thumb model

Answer 15

Nest parasites

E.g cuckoos lay eggs in other birds nest and bird then raises it as its own