Kin selection in social birds

The importance of kin selection in the evolution of sociality in animals remains a topic of debate in evolutionary biology.

In this talk I will examine the role that kinship has played in the evolution of cooperation in three contexts.

First, using data from a long-term study I will show that helping in a cooperative breeder, the long-tailed tit Aegithalos caudatus, is the product of kin selection.

Second, using a comparative analysis of cooperatively breeding bird species, I will investigate whether helper effort varies with kinship as predicted by kin selection theory.

Finally, I will discuss the influence of kinship on cooperative investment in communally breeding sociable weavers Philetairus socius. I will show that in all contexts, relatedness appears to play a critical role in the evolution of cooperative behaviour. (Dr. Ben Hatchwell)

Ponent: Dr. Ben Hatchwell, professor of Evolutionary Ecology de la University of Sheffield (UK). President de la International Society for Behavioural Ecology.

Idioma vehicular: anglès.

Lloc: sala d’actes del Museu Blau (pl. Leonardo da Vinci, 4-5, parc del Fòrum, Barcelona)

Imatge de Teddy Llovet.

Dins el programa de Seminaris de Biodiversitat, SEMBIO. Debat i intercanvi d’experiències essencialment sobre sistemàtica i evolució animal i filogènia molecular, per bé que altres vessants de l’estudi de la biodiversitat també hi tenen cabuda.