Partitioning of reproduction in animal societies

Keller, Laurent; Reeve, H. Kern

doi:10.1016/0169-5347(94)90204-6

Cited by 458 publications

(353 citation statements)

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“…To come to firmer conclusions with respect to the selective factors involved in the evolution of reproductive skew a more elaborate and critical testing of the alternative models needs to be done. Such testing should preferably include a combination of experimental research to study the impact of parameter values on skew and on decision making by dominants and subordinates, and of comparative analyses of parameter values and skew in closely related species to investigate evolutionary pathways (Keller and Reeve, 1994).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The impact of each of the parameters on skew has been explored in detail by Reeve and Ratnieks (1993), summarized by Keller and Reeve (1994), and elaborated for cases of asymmetrical relatedness (matrifilial societies) by Reeve and Keller (1995). It is unlikely that peace incentives are present in the subject species of Xylocopa and Ceratina: In Xylocopa skew is maximal and therefore neither peace nor staying incentives are given; in Ceratina fighting has never been observed.…”

Section: Does Observed Skew Fit the Predictions?mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The degree of reproductive skew has been predicted to influence key societal attributes such as the frequency and intensity of dominance interaction in a group and the willingness of subordinates to perform risky or energetically costly tasks (Reeve and Ratnieks, 1993;Keller and Reeve, 1994). Under high skew, a high payoff is expected to the sub-ordinate for aggressively testing the quality of the dominant.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Using a comparative approach at different levels (i.e., by comparison of nests within species, species within tribes, and between tribes), we will then address whether the observed patterns are consistent with the following predictions derived from skew theory (Reeve and Ratnieks, 1993;Keller and Reeve, 1994;Reeve and Keller, 1995): (1) The proportion of reproduction by the subordinate is lower when constraints on solitary breeding are high; (2) The proportion of reproduction by the subordinate decreases with increasing group productivity relative to solitary productivity; (3) The proportion of reproduction by the subordinate decreases with increasing relatedness between a subordinate and the dominant; (4) High skew coincides with performance of costly tasks by subordinates; (5) High skew coincides with high levels of aggressive testing of the dominant by subordinates.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Allocation of reproduction by group members is measured as reproductive skew, which varies between zero, when all reproduction is shared equally, and one, when a single individual completely dominates reproduction Keller, 1995, Pamilo andCrozier, 1996). Recent models of the evolution of reproductive skew (Vehrencamp, 1983;Reeve, 1991;Reeve and Ratnieks, 1993;Keller and Reeve, 1994;Reeve and Keller, 1995) address the conditions under which reproduction becomes either monopolized or shared. This so called "optimal skew" (Reeve et al, 1998) or "concession" (Clutton-Brock, 1998) model assumes that dominants can completely control both whether, and how much the subordinate reproduces in the group.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Task allocation and reproductive skew in social mass provisioning carpenter bees in relation to age and size

Hogendoorn

Velthuis

1999

Insectes soc.

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SummaryThe mass provisioning carpenter bees comprise two tribes, the Xylocopini and the Ceratinini. Although social nesting occurs in both tribes, no morphological castes have evolved and females are totipotent, which makes the tribe as a whole highly suitable to test predictions of reproductive skew models. We review current information for the two tribes with respect to reproductive competition and reproductive skew and then investigate whether the observed skew fits with predictions from optimal skew theory. Social nests of Xylocopa species include a non-foraging guard and a foraging egg layer who completely dominates reproduction. Reproductive dominance is settled by aggression, and the probability of winning this fight is influenced by both age and size. In Ceratina species, task allocation is also very clear: one female guards the nest, while the other female(s) forage(s). Although the guard is usually the first to produce an egg, her eggs are frequently replaced by those of the forager, and skew is incomplete.Using comparisons between species and genera the impact of ecological constraints on solitary nesting, relative group productivity and relatedness on reproductive partitioning between dominants and subordinates are investigated in a qualitative way. In support of the optimal skew model, strong constraints on solitary nesting coincided with strong skew. However, the predicted effects of relatedness and group productivity on skew were not found. Furthermore, no support was found for the predictions of the optimal skew model that high skew coincides with frequent aggressive testing and risky task performance by subordinates.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Does Observed Skew Fit the Predictions?mentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Task allocation and reproductive skew in social mass provisioning carpenter bees in relation to age and size

Hogendoorn

Velthuis

1999

Insectes soc.

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Eusociality and Cooperation

Keller

Chapuisat

2010

Encyclopedia of Life Sciences

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The evolution of eusociality, here defined as the emergence of societies with reproductive division of labour and cooperative brood care, was first seen as a challenge to Darwin's theory of evolution by natural selection. Why should individuals permanently forgo direct reproduction to help other individuals to reproduce? Kin selection, the indirect transmission of genes through relatives, is the key process explaining the evolution of permanently nonreproductive helpers. However, in some taxa helpers delay reproduction until a breeding opportunity becomes available. Overall, eusociality evolved when ecological conditions promote stable associations of related individuals that benefit from jointly exploiting and defending common resources. High levels of cooperation and robust mechanisms of division of labour are found in many animal societies. However, conflicts among individuals are still frequent when group members that are not genetically identical compete over reproduction or resource allocation. Evolution of Reproductive Altruism and Eusociality Social life provides such advantages that it has led to a tremendous ecological success of social animals, particularly social insects. Social insects are found in almost every

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Reproductive Skew Theory

Trubenová

Hager

2012

Encyclopedia of Life Sciences

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An almost universal characteristic of cooperatively breeding animal groups is the unequal sharing of reproduction within the group, referred to as reproductive skew. Reproductive skew theory has been developed to investigate the adaptive causes underlying the variation in reproduction between and within species seen in nature. From its inception in the late 1970s, skew theory has expanded over the years both conceptually and in its application. Three main types of models are distinguished: Transactional models assume that reproductive shares are offered as a reward for cooperative behaviour, tug‐of‐war; TOW (or compromise ) models assume that reproductive shares are determined by competitive abilities of individuals. Both assumptions are reconciled in the third type of models, most recently developed synthetic models . Reproductive skew theory makes predictions about the range of skew using a set of key parameters such as relatedness and competitive abilities of group members. Skew theory has been applied to a wide variety of topics in evolutionary biology such as parent–offspring conflict, sex ratio conflict or the evolution of cooperation. Key to skew theory is the question under what conditions groups remain stable and it has thus been advanced as a framework to understand the evolution of sociality. Key Concepts: Social animals living in groups must often resolve a conflict over the allocation of reproduction. Unequal partitioning of reproduction is termed reproductive skew. Reproductive skew is a degree of reproductive bias in favour of one or a few breeders. Skew theory provides a possible explanation for conflict resolution and adaptive causes of sociality. Several indices of skew exist, suitable for different types of studies and questions. There are three main types of models: transactional, tug‐of‐war (TOW) (also referred to as compromise) and synthetic models, based on different assumptions and yielding different predictions. Transactional models are subdivided into two categories: concession and restraint models. Concession models assume full control of dominants over reproduction in the group, and reproductive share is offered as a reward for cooperation. Restraint models assume subordinates are free to claim reproduction and are only limited by the threat of eviction. TOW models are based on the assumption that both subordinates and dominants have only a limited control over the reproduction and reproductive share is determined by the mutual competitive abilities. Synthetic models combine features of transactional and TOW models. The maximal and minimal reproductive share of the subordinate for a group to remain stable is determined as in transactional models, while, within the range given by the maximal and minimal share, the exact reproductive share is determined by the competitive abilities of both subordinate and dominant in a TOW scenario.

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Partitioning of reproduction in animal societies

Cited by 458 publications

References 20 publications

Task allocation and reproductive skew in social mass provisioning carpenter bees in relation to age and size

Task allocation and reproductive skew in social mass provisioning carpenter bees in relation to age and size

Eusociality and Cooperation

Reproductive Skew Theory

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