The Evolution of Social Behaviour

In July 2020, Michael Taborsky officially retired as Professor in Behavioural Ecology at the University of Bern, Switzerland. His scientific life has been, and still is devoted to revealing fundamental principles social evolution by natural selection, based on conflict cooperation among individuals. Colleagues, collaborators students celebrate this occasion with a symposium behaviour September 2021, which former colleagues, present their current research. This special issue The Evolution Social Behaviour companion event includes contributions almost all speakers. Having been trained classical behavioural ecologist, during his further recognized central necessity study ultimate proximate causation conjunction. breadth nicely mirrors multifaceted interests integrative approach animal behaviour. contributors selected Ethology outlet because journal represents encourages ever since its foundation, not least served Editor-in-Chief for 11 years, from 1999 2010. offers authors wide spectrum article types. Accordingly, contains bouquet contributions. Perspective Reviews papers asking how cooperative breeding may help or hinder coping environmental change (Komdeur & Ma, 2021), highlighting possibility that sociality more widespread marine habitats than usually assumed (Mazzei Rubenstein, individual competence vice versa (Taborsky, 2021). Oliveira Bshary (2021) propose include interspecific relationships into behaviour, Bender outlines potential ethology improve evolutionary understanding human medical problems. Original Research ask whether naked mole rats express caste differentiation (Siegmann et al., are aware ability partners reciprocate food donations (Schweinfurth, novel imaging techniques (Jungwirth show collective actions can lead diversification behaviours (Green 2021) illustrate importance early environment learning abilities cichlids (Fischer later attraction conspecific odours (Schneeberger Eccard, Tebbich provides first quantitative account self-anointment birds. Two Species-in-the-Spotlight articles provide comprehensive insights systems crotophagine cuckoos (Riehl, vampire bats (Carter, Finally, an Ethological Methods explores usefulness score aggression across (Josi Frommen, compilation underlines extraordinary diversity Michael's research Beyond that, it one fancies dive deeply discussions exciting questions, no matter concerns own fields entirely unrelated topics. Among Michaels certainly best known large body cooperation. Cooperation considered most questions biology Darwin, consensus primary literature textbooks kin selection generally responsible partners. different vertebrate invertebrate demonstrated, however, focus way too narrow. work revealed originates interaction several mechanisms, involving negotiation trading, enforcement, depending ecological forces selection. measured fitness consequences males females two very fish both exhibiting three alternative male mating tactics allowing understand such multiple morphs evolve be maintained; he deciphered intricate decision rules Norway use when reciprocating received others. era “phenotypic gambit,” was ecology, mechanisms were unnecessary evolution. However, adopted angle Building Tinbergen's famous “four questions” (Tinbergen 1963), convinced function (“why”) also know "how" animals accomplish (e.g., Hofmann 2014; 2015; Taborsky, 2015). Above all, wanted expressing behaviours, exemplified rats, but strived sensory (Gerber 2020; Schneeberger 2020), energetic (Grantner 1998; Grantner, 1998) hormonal (Bender 2006, 2008) underpinnings While developed mastery art testing concepts sophisticated experiments field laboratory, often targeted manipulations particular focal stimulus individuals, combined empirical theoretical modelling time scales. Rather heuristic proof-of-concept models high degree abstraction, aimed informing biological gained work, even cost greater model complexity van Doorn &Taborsky, 2012; Hamilton 2005; Quinones 2016). Few people started career fact Lorenzian style “goose maid,” working volunteer Max-Planck Institute Physiology Seewiesen. When joined institute late 1970s, hand-raised bar-headed geese (Anser indicus) project Jürg Lamprecht. goslings imprinted followed him day every turn. stayed Seewiesen start PhD, dwelling costs benefits breeding. It functional studies cooperatively birds (Emlen, 1982; Koenig, 1981; Reyer, 1980) mammals (Rasa, 1977) caused quite some excitement: major riddle, seemed contradict maximization forgo reproduction order raise foreign young. came Seewiesen, Kalas (1976) just had described basics system apparently cichlid Lake Tanganyika, Neolamprologus brichardi. Sociality these chosen PhD topic colleague Dominique Limberger, who used fantastic opportunities experimentally laboratory field. thesis, handed Vienna 1982, contained detailed cost–benefit analysis helping perspectives subordinates dominant breeders 1984, 1985; 1981). He would return in-depth only years later. I met 1981, ornithologist aiming studying did consider super-exciting, say least. taught better. As postdoctoral project, studied reproductive (ARTs) Mediterranean ocellated wrasses, Symphodus occellatus. assistant truly astounded see have diverse fine-tuned means behaving communicating, form stable, recognize each other. Ocellated wrasses feature ARTs, nest-building burgeois males, tolerated satellite defending against sneakers, female mimic steal fertilizations. Remarkably, satellites parasitically spawn themselves therefore do enhance net fertilization success nest males. Yet, benefit satellites, presence indicates successful (Taborsky 1987). second postdoc MPI birds—much my delight. unusual any respect top they pretty much invisible. became hooked species featuring extreme parental investments animals, flightless fully nocturnal North Island brown kiwi, Apteryx mantelli. Females size small chicken lay yolk-rich eggs weighing up half kilo, incubated 3 months. Reproduction drives sexes critical limits energy expenditure 1993). question why investment pattern evolve. Also, should expect long incubation, seek chances matings? aspects diploma doctoral topics, challenged technical feasibility required our investigative skills obtain data energetics secretive species. Our first, fruitless weeks season we spent trying various less methods catch kiwis, until accept kiwi run faster hand. Needless kiwis winning race. turned out live stable pairs socially genetically monogamous 1991, 1992, 1999). Males need recovery after lose reserves. But 100% faithful partners? Simply cannot jumbo eggs. Egg formation greatly depletes reserves, so compensate loss fast enough engage other 1985, took permanent position Konrad-Lorenz Comparative (KLIVV) Vienna, where deputy director 1993. waiting generous aquarium facility built KLIVV research, myself another bird. time, able fly active day—so far good. odd way: obligate brood parasite. We unknown European cuckoo, Cuculus canorus, find “correct” host mimetic egg roughly 100 Host imprinting, popular hypothesis according young learn phenotype nestlings, supported experiment Brooke Davies (1991). set perform hand-rearing experiment, hypothesis—the habitat-imprinting hypothesis, proposing cuckoo chicks habitat type around adults laying. hand-reared seven differently shaped coloured artificial “habitats.” clearly birds, neither nor are. So morning hours, placed next bed ensure get hourly meals 6:00 am, between could additional sleep. adults, tested huge flying hall preferences. given simultaneous choice possible rearing reed habitat, indeed preferred watch songbirds within (Teuschl 1998). radio-telemetry Czech Republik, support accumulated (Vogl 2002, 2004), recent cross-continental using ringing confirmed migration, resembling ones grew (Kolecek 2020). 2000, offered ordinary professorship chair Division Switzerland, situated picturesque Station Hasli, 300-year-old farm nature reserve river Aare. During decades worked main remained pulcher Lepidiolamprologus callipterus. addition, reciprocal interactions wild-type (Rattus norvegicus) ambrosia beetles. Parallel experimental 1995 on, yearly expeditions Zambia, established station Kasakalawe near Mpulungu, now open teams over world. (see Cover Illustration issue) intensively understood system. cichlid, breeder pair helpers jointly care larvae produced dominants free-swimming, guard them predators, maintain quality territory. Several features diverge significantly those breeders. (a) team found factor—predation pressure—predominantly triggers (Groenewoud 2016; Heg 2004; 1985) whereas resource availability, saturation climatic unpredictability play role fish. risk predated, mainly piscivores, explains N. breed colonies 2015), extended natal philopatry (Heg strategically adjust growth 2004b) pay stay accepted group 1985). Cooperative reflects trading commodities (Quinones Safety traded load-lightning 2007; Zöttl 2013a) offspring survival (Brouwer 2005), stabilized latent threat punishment eviction 2014). (b) Another peculiarity marked size-dependent division labour 1984; 1986, Bruintjes 2011), many sizes due indeterminate growth. (c) groups consist mixture related Relatedness declines helper age, adult helpers, efficient providing help, breeder's beneficiaries (Dierkes 2005). Opposite driven accordance pay-to-stay mechanism, relatedness reduces effort (Zöttl 2013b). take forms certain invertebrates. Next fish, beetle age (age polyethism; Biedermann sisters exceedingly haplodiploidy nearly full-sib mating. Ambrosia beetles tiny bark practising agriculture cultivating fungi cultures (Biedermann 2009), grow harvest burrow wood dead trees. Due inbreeding, genetic low; outbreeding (Peer 2004, Additionally, furthered defend pathogens, edible fungi, overgrown harmful germs (Nuotcla 2019). Moreover, humidity influences viability timing dispersal With Claudia Rutte, sought suited reciprocity directly—they decided Rattus norvegicus, lucky pull. past decades, unfolded unforeseen simple well complex exchange goods services. After demonstrating direct reciprocity, requiring remember previous co-operators defectors (Rutte 2008), showed simpler rule: generalized triggered receiving individual, mechanism minimal cognitive capacity 2007). generates higher propensity dogs here trigger similar levels (Gfrerer 2017). state (Barta 2011; Pfeiffer Rats exhibit exchanging food; Rutte services (allogroming; Schweinfurth 2017) same commodity, pulling bar pushing lever, 2017), allogrooming, 2018a). They defective days (Schweinfurth 2020) likewise (Kettler lower 2018b). Mechanistically, smell helpful hungry extensive reviews taxa, proved held belief wrong rare 2016, Ever kept being fascinated ARTS stabilized. Similar callipterus exhibits Large bourgeois build vigorously nests made hundreds empty snail shells. smaller shells deposit eggs, Bourgeois L. sexual dimorphism direction: 12 times heavier females. A series meticulous (Schütz 2005) 2006) divergent pressures—with carry building remain fit shells—are driving dimorphism. Nest inseminate through shell opening, tactic intermediate-sized sneakers. there dwarf morph pass while sitting tip shell. Dwarf make achieve average 78% fertilizations, rarely reaching favourable (Wirtz-Ocana unlike vertebrates, represent inherited y-chromosome, monomorphic 2013, types interactions, end deadly new takes existing (Maan 2008). heavily compete via sperm competition 2010, 2017; 2018). summarized ARTs conceptual 1994, 1997, 2008, Rui Oliveira, Jane Brockmann compiled edited book about (Oliveira presenting 20 contributed chapters summarizing knowledge taxa ARTs. colleagues Mike Cant Jan Komdeur endeavour write explaining stunning animals. Arguably, results competition. Grounded theory, synthesizes framework predicting cope argue individuals succeed “racing” others, others accessing resources, “fighting” exclusive access “sharing” efforts gains. intense writing authors, sweetened few retreats Swiss Alps Dutch Atlantic coast, appeared August 2021 Being university, involved number duties university administrator. Apart member countless commissions, Director Evolution, Acting Biology Department Vice-Dean Phil.-Nat. faculty, repeatedly. teacher, lectures, seminars practical courses gave organized, aim discussions, rather consuming contents. supervisor 40 students, 17 Post-Docs master bachelor focussed training researchers method, including development questions. An integral part student encourage everyone, publish results. uncountable hours correct manuscripts ready publication. Last substantially inspired motivated me throughout career. Therefore, like personal note. asked share table someone, person doors days. say: perfectly well. imagine inspiring supportive partner life, science everyday challenges confronted with. am indebted contributing referees promptly, symposium. hope will wonderful surprise honorand.