The aim of this chapter is twofold. First, to outline how recent developments in cooperation theory are so similar to the communication network concept (McGregor, 1993) that a unified terminology would be useful to facilitate exchange of ideas. Second, we argue that the communication network concept provides an evolutionary framework to predict the widespread occurrence of phenomena that until ...

We describe the biology and life stages of the birch bark beetle, Dryocoetes betulae Hopkins, and report its second knownoccurrence in Idaho.One annual generationwas observedwith broods overwintering as larvae and sexually immature adults. The species is polygamous with a ratio of 1.8 females per male. Two females (rarely three) joined a male after he entered the bark, and each female created a...

Osteological variation is recorded among and within four of the most distinctive species of the Mexican salamander genus Chiropterotriton. Analysis of the data is consistent with the monophyletic status of the genus and documents previously unrecorded intraspecific and interspecific variation. Most of the recorded variation involves qualitative and quantitative proportional differences, but fou...

The applicability of biological market theory with its emphasis on partner choice is explored using the interactions between the cleaner wrasse Labroides dimidiatus and its “client” reef fish as a model system of mutualism. Cleaners have small territories, which the majority of reef fish species actively visit to invite inspection of their surface, gills, and mouth. Clients benefit from the rem...

Deviations from model-based predictions of strategies leading to stable cooperation between unrelated individuals have raised considerable debate in regards to decision-making processes in humans. Here, we present data on cleaner wrasse (Labroides dimidiatus) that emphasize the importance of generalizing this discussion to other species, with the aim to develop a coherent theoretical framework....

Mutualisms affect the biodiversity, distribution and abundance of biological communities. However, ecological processes that drive mutualism-related shifts in population structure are often unclear and must be examined to elucidate how complex, multi-species mutualistic networks are formed and structured. In this study, we investigated how the presence of key marine mutualistic partners can dri...

Punishment is an important deterrent against cheating in cooperative interactions. In humans, the severity of cheating affects the strength of punishment which, in turn, affects the punished individual's future behaviour. Here, we show such flexible adjustments for the first time in a non-human species, the cleaner wrasse (Labroides dimidiatus), where males are known to punish female partners. ...