The Evolution and Ecology of Cooperative Breeding in Vertebrates

Jan Komdeur, University of Groningen, The Netherlands
Cas Eikenaar, University of Groningen, The Netherlands
Lyanne Brouwer, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
David S Richardson, University of East Anglia, Norwich, England, United Kingdom

Published online: December 2008

DOI: 10.1002/9780470015902.a0021218

Full Article on Wiley Online Library

Cooperative breeding – in which some adults forgo independent breeding and remain as subordinates within a group helping to raise the offspring of others – occurs in between 3% and 10% of vertebrates. The structure of such systems varies greatly, from pairs with helpers-at-the-nest to communal breeders, and may include young helpers or post-reproductive ‘grandparents’. That some individuals spend part, or all, of their lives helping others to reproduce contradicts the concept of ‘selfish’ natural selection and provides an intriguing evolutionary paradox. When and why such apparently altruistic behaviour occurs has, therefore, been the focus of much study. Although constraints and the benefits of group living, may persuade individuals to remain as subordinates, indirect ‘kin’ benefits or direct benefits (such as becoming a breeding helper) appear to favour the subsequent evolution of helping. Cooperative behaviour can have wide-ranging consequences, not only on the biology of the cooperative species, but also on those species it interacts with.

Keywords: cooperation; habitat quality; resource competition; dispersal; population dynamics; helpers

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Article Title:	The Evolution and Ecology of Cooperative Breeding in Vertebrates
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	Figure 1. Three species used in studies investigating the evolution of cooperative breeding in vertebrates: (a) Lake Tanganyika cichlid (Neolamprologus pulcher). A breeding group defending their territory against a predatory fish (photo: M. Taborsky); (b) superb fairy-wren (Malurus cyaneus). A dominant male (photo: A. Russell); (c) meerkat (Suricata suricatta). Subordinates help babysit the dominant pairs’ offspring (photo: A.J. Young); (d) naked mole-rat (Heterocephalus glaber, photo: R. A. Mendez).
	Figure 2. The percentage of group offspring that is sired by male and female helpers within populations of cooperatively breeding species. Although in some species helpers refrain (almost) completely from direct reproduction, in other species they produce nearly as many offspring as the dominants in the group. Furthermore, in some species helpers of one sex produce a considerably larger part of group offspring through direct reproduction than the other sex. In all cases parentage was assigned using molecular analyses. Species and sources: A, dwarf mongoose (Helogale parvula, Keane et al., 1994); B, wild dog (Lycaon pictus, Girman et al., 1997); C, meerkat (Suricata suricatta, Griffin et al., 2003); D, Lake Tanganyika cichlid (Neolamprologus pulcher, Dierkes et al., 1999); E, Lake Tanganyika cichlid (Julidochromis ornatus, Awata et al., 2005); F, Seychelles warbler (Acrocephalus sechellensis, Richardson et al., 2001); G, moorhen (Gallinula chloropus, McRae, 1996); H, Florida scrub-jay (Aphelocoma coerulescens, Quinn et al., 1999); I, white-browed scrubwren (Sericornis frontalis, Whittingham et al., 1997); J, Alpine accentor (Prunella collaris, Hartley et al., 1995); K, pukeko (Porphyrio porphyrioi melanotus, Lambert et al., 1994); L, white-throated magpie-jay (Calocitta formosa, Berg, 2005); M, long-tailed tit (Aegithalos caudatus, Hatchwell et al., 2002); N, superb fairy-wren (Malurus cyaneus, Double and Cockburn, 2003).
	Figure 3. The percentage of territories with subordinates in relation to habitat saturation in a given year for the Seychelles warblers on Cousin Island between 1959 and 2006 (r²=0.67, F=28.3, P<0.001). The percentage of habitat saturation for a given year was measured as the number of territories present in that year divided by the maximum number of territories recorded in a given year (n=121). Island photograph courtesy of Lyanne Brouwer and bird photograph courtesy of Cas Eikenaar.

The Evolution and Ecology of Cooperative Breeding in Vertebrates

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