Kin recognition in a social spider

Social Learning and Kin Recognition

A s Sherman (this issue) notes, I tried (Alexander 1990) to determine “the extent to which social learning, especially without self-reference, can account for the kin recognition findings of different investigators with different organisms . . . (p. 273). I had two motivations. First, I have had difftculty modeling the evolution of kin recognition via mechanisms that can function in the absence...

Benefits of cooperation with genetic kin in a subsocial spider.

Interaction within groups exploiting a common resource may be prone to cheating by selfish actions that result in disadvantages for all members of the group, including the selfish individuals. Kin selection is one mechanism by which such dilemmas can be resolved. This is because selfish acts toward relatives include the cost of lowering indirect fitness benefits that could otherwise be achieved...

Kin recognition in rattlesnakes.

Snakes are often regarded as the least social of all vertebrate groups, but this assumption stems from the fact that they are secretive and difficult to observe in nature, rather than direct evidence. Recent studies have revealed a surprising degree of social complexity in snakes. Here, I examine the ability of captive-raised timber rattlesnakes (Crotalus horridus) to recognize siblings by meas...

Kin recognition in plants?

Social Evolution: The Decline and Fall of Genetic Kin Recognition

Animals should benefit from the ability to recognise their kin, yet curiously this faculty is often absent. New theory confirms that genetic kin recognition is inherently unstable, explaining its rarity.