Concurrent effects of familiarity and kinship on social affiliations in convict cichlid (Amatitlania siquia) young

Behaviour ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 150 (8) ◽  
pp. 895-919 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stacey S.Y. Lee-Jenkins ◽  
Jean-Guy J. Godin
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Relatedness ◽  
Cichlid Fish ◽  
The Body ◽  
Convict Cichlid ◽  
Simultaneous Choice ◽  
Social Affiliations ◽  
Social Familiarity ◽  
Focal Fish ◽  
Social Associations ◽  
Amatitlania Siquia

The cues associated with social familiarity and genetic relatedness and how they interact to influence the formation of social associations among individuals, and thus group composition and dynamics, is poorly understood. Here, we investigated the concurrent effects of social familiarity and kinship on social affiliations in free-swimming convict cichlid fish young or ‘fry’ (Amatitlania siquia) by pitting the cues of social familiarity and kinship against each other in a four-way choice apparatus. Individual focal fish were given a simultaneous choice to associate (‘shoal’) with conspecifics that were either socially familiar and kin (full sibs), socially unfamiliar and kin, socially familiar and not kin, or socially unfamiliar and not kin. Stimulus shoal preference differed depending on the body length of the focal fish; smaller fry exhibited no preference, whereas larger (more mobile) fry significantly preferred to associate with familiar kin. In the convict cichlid system, where brood mixing occurs in the wild, a preference to associate with familiar kin may confer fitness benefits to individuals, especially when fry become more mobile as they grow and encounter predators more often. Our results contribute to further our understanding of the roles of familiarity and kinship in the formation of social associations in the convict cichlid in particular and in animals in general.

Polymorphic microsatellite loci optimised for studies on the convict cichlid fish (Amatitlania siquia)

2011 ◽  
Vol 92 (2) ◽  
pp. 261-266 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stacey S. Y. Lee-Jenkins ◽  
Adam M. Densmore ◽  
Jean-Guy J. Godin ◽  
Myron L. Smith
Keyword(s):  
Microsatellite Loci ◽  
Cichlid Fish ◽  
Convict Cichlid ◽  
Polymorphic Microsatellite ◽  
Amatitlania Siquia

Genetic evidence for mixed broods and extra-pair matings in a socially monogamous biparental cichlid fish

Behaviour ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 152 (11) ◽  
pp. 1507-1526 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stacey S.Y. Lee-Jenkins ◽  
Myron L. Smith ◽  
Brian D. Wisenden ◽  
Alex Wong ◽  
Jean-Guy J. Godin
Keyword(s):  
Body Length ◽  
Cichlid Fish ◽  
Convict Cichlid ◽  
Social Monogamy ◽  
Model Species ◽  
High Prevalence ◽  
Socially Monogamous ◽  
First Time ◽  
Very High ◽  
Amatitlania Siquia

Mobile young under parental care have a high potential for intermixing with other broods, which potentially increases the costs to the foster parents. Here, we examined for the first time the genetic composition of wild-caught broods of the convict cichlid (Amatitlania siquia), a socially monogamous biparental fish, for evidence of brood mixing and adoption. Our microsatellite genotyping data revealed that 79% of broods contained adopted young. Moreover, 25% of broods contained adopted sibsets likely arising from extra-pair matings, a phenomenon hitherto not documented for this species. Overall, adopted foreign fry and host fry in mixed broods were generally different in body length, as would be expected if they have different parents. However, fry from possible extra-pair matings were similar in body length to host fry, suggesting that they are of similar age. Our results are important because they reveal a very high prevalence and degree of brood mixing, and indicate that social monogamy does not necessarily lead to genetic monogamy in the convict cichlid in nature. These findings raise questions about potential brood-mixing mechanisms and the reproductive ecology (especially opportunities for polygamy in nature) of this important model species in the study of animal behaviour.

scholarly journals Homophily around specialized foraging underlies dolphin social preferences

2019 ◽  
Vol 15 (4) ◽  
pp. 20180909 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. M. S. Machado ◽  
M. Cantor ◽  
A. P. B. Costa ◽  
B. P. H. Righetti ◽  
C. Bezamat ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cultural Transmission ◽  
Social Preferences ◽  
Genetic Relatedness ◽  
Group Formation ◽  
Home Ranges ◽  
Social Patterns ◽  
Social Affiliations ◽  
Dolphin Population ◽  
Social Associations ◽  
Foraging Tactic

Individuals often associate socially with those who behave the same way. This principle, homophily, could structure populations into distinct social groups. We tested this hypothesis in a bottlenose dolphin population that appeared to be clustered around a specialized foraging tactic involving cooperation with net-casting fishermen, but in which other potential drivers of such social structure have never been assessed. We measured and controlled for the contribution of sex, age, genetic relatedness, home range and foraging tactics on social associations to test for homophily effects. Dolphins tended to group with others having similar home ranges and frequency of using the specialized foraging tactic, but not other traits. Such social preferences were particularly clear when dolphins were not foraging, showing that homophily extends beyond simply participating in a specific tactic. Combined, these findings highlight the need to account for multiple drivers of group formation across behavioural contexts to determine true social affiliations. We suggest that homophily around behavioural specialization can be a major driver of social patterns, with implications for other social processes. If homophily based on specialized tactics underlies animal social structures more widely, then it may be important in modulating opportunities for social learning, and therefore influence patterns of cultural transmission.

Structural, temporal and genetic properties of social groups in the short-lived migratory bat Nyctalus leisleri

Behaviour ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 154 (7-8) ◽  
pp. 785-807 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ladislav Naďo ◽  
Renáta Chromá ◽  
Peter Kaňuch
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Relatedness ◽  
Social Groups ◽  
Natal Philopatry ◽  
Long Distance ◽  
Nyctalus Leisleri ◽  
The Social ◽  
Pregnancy And Lactation ◽  
Capture Recapture ◽  
Social Associations ◽  
Migratory Movements

Social groups of bats that operate under fission–fusion dynamics tend to establish and maintain non-random associations. We examined the social and genetic structure of the Leisler’s bat (Nyctalus leisleri), a species that is typical of tree-dwelling and long-distance migratory species in Europe. We used long-term co-occurrence data (capture-recapture sampling of roosting individuals) in combination with individual genetic relatedness (inferred from a set of microsatellite markers) to assess relationships between structural, temporal and genetic properties of roosting groups. Our results showed that social structure in groups of roosting Leisler’s bat was not random. Social clusters revealed by network analysis were almost identical to demographic cohorts, which indicates that Leisler’s bats are able to maintain social bonds only over a single season. After the period of active maternal care, roosting groups became smaller with a significantly higher level of genetic relatedness among adult females in contrast to the pregnancy and lactation stages. This provides some evidence that temporal social associations may be positively correlated with genetic relatedness. Low recapture rates of bats across seasons in light of natal philopatry indicates a shorter life span of individuals likely due to high mortality during long distance migratory movements. This probably has the most significant effect on the social system of this species.

scholarly journals Males harm females less when competing with familiar relatives

2017 ◽  
Vol 284 (1867) ◽  
pp. 20171984 ◽  
Author(s):  
Samuel J. Lymbery ◽  
Leigh W. Simmons
Keyword(s):  
Egg Production ◽  
Callosobruchus Maculatus ◽  
Genetic Relatedness ◽  
Inclusive Fitness ◽  
Fitness Costs ◽  
Offspring Production ◽  
Social Familiarity ◽  
Indirect Fitness ◽  
Opposite Sex ◽  
Female Lifespan

Sexual conflict occurs when reproductive partners have different fitness optima, and can lead to the evolution of traits in one sex that inflict fitness costs on the opposite sex. Recently, it has been proposed that antagonism by males towards females should be reduced when they compete with relatives, because reducing the future productivity of a female would result in an indirect fitness cost for a harmful male. We tested this prediction in the seed beetle Callosobruchus maculatus , the males of which harm females with genital spines and pre-copulatory harassment. We compared lifespan, lifetime egg production and lifetime offspring production among females housed with groups of males that varied in their familiarity and relatedness. Females produced significantly more eggs and offspring when grouped with males who were both related and familiar to each other. There was no effect of male relatedness or familiarity on female lifespan. Our results suggest that males plastically adjust their harmfulness towards females in response to changes in inclusive fitness payoffs, and that in this species both genetic relatedness and social familiarity mediate this effect.

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