Kin recognition in rainbowfish (Melanotaenia eachamensis): sex, sibs and shoaling
Living with relatives can be beneficial to individuals via the evolution of kin-directed altruism, but this is tempered by the increased risk of inbreeding. Therefore, in social species, the ability to recognise relatives can be highly advantageous. This study focuses on kin discrimination in the La...
Published in: | Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology |
---|---|
Main Author: | |
Format: | Article in Journal/Newspaper |
Language: | English |
Published: |
Springer Verlag
2000
|
Subjects: | |
Online Access: | https://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:140255 |
id |
ftunivqespace:oai:espace.library.uq.edu.au:UQ:140255 |
---|---|
record_format |
openpolar |
spelling |
ftunivqespace:oai:espace.library.uq.edu.au:UQ:140255 2023-05-15T14:30:13+02:00 Kin recognition in rainbowfish (Melanotaenia eachamensis): sex, sibs and shoaling Arnold, K. E. 2000-01-01 https://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:140255 eng eng Springer Verlag doi:10.1007/s002650000253 issn:0340-5443 Behavioral Sciences Ecology Zoology Kin Recognition Inbreeding Avoidance Shoaling Fish Group Living Juvenile Arctic Charr Salvelinus-alpinus L Poecilia-reticulata Familiarity Discrimination Preferences Population Animals Guppies 270707 Sociobiology and Behavioural Ecology C1 780105 Biological sciences 0502 Environmental Science and Management 0602 Ecology Journal Article 2000 ftunivqespace https://doi.org/10.1007/s002650000253 2020-08-17T23:08:11Z Living with relatives can be beneficial to individuals via the evolution of kin-directed altruism, but this is tempered by the increased risk of inbreeding. Therefore, in social species, the ability to recognise relatives can be highly advantageous. This study focuses on kin discrimination in the Lake Eacham rainbowfish, Melanotaenia eachamensis, an endangered freshwater species from north-east Queensland, Australia. First, I examined kin recognition abilities when a combination of both chemical and visual recognition cues was available. When given a choice of shoaling with same-sex groups, females spent significantly longer with full-sibs rather than half-sibs, full-sibs rather than non-relatives and half-sibs rather than non-relatives. Males spent significantly longer shoaling with full-brothers versus half-brothers, but showed no other shoalmate preferences. Second, in the presence of only chemical cues, females did not discriminate among groups of different levels of relatedness, but males showed a non-significant tendency to associate with full-sibs rather than non-relatives. Male shoaling behaviour seemed to be more influenced by factors other than relatedness, e.g. intra-sexual competition. Finally, I found that the shoaling preferences of females changed when exposed to groups of males. Females preferred to associate with non-relatives rather than half-brothers and non-relatives rather than full-brothers. There was no significant difference in the time spent with half-brothers versus full-brothers. Taken together, my results suggest that females have very good kin recognition abilities. They prefer to shoal with female relatives but avoid male relatives, and so are able to balance the benefits of nepotism and the costs of incest. Article in Journal/Newspaper Arctic charr Arctic Salvelinus alpinus The University of Queensland: UQ eSpace Arctic Queensland Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology 48 5 385 391 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
The University of Queensland: UQ eSpace |
op_collection_id |
ftunivqespace |
language |
English |
topic |
Behavioral Sciences Ecology Zoology Kin Recognition Inbreeding Avoidance Shoaling Fish Group Living Juvenile Arctic Charr Salvelinus-alpinus L Poecilia-reticulata Familiarity Discrimination Preferences Population Animals Guppies 270707 Sociobiology and Behavioural Ecology C1 780105 Biological sciences 0502 Environmental Science and Management 0602 Ecology |
spellingShingle |
Behavioral Sciences Ecology Zoology Kin Recognition Inbreeding Avoidance Shoaling Fish Group Living Juvenile Arctic Charr Salvelinus-alpinus L Poecilia-reticulata Familiarity Discrimination Preferences Population Animals Guppies 270707 Sociobiology and Behavioural Ecology C1 780105 Biological sciences 0502 Environmental Science and Management 0602 Ecology Arnold, K. E. Kin recognition in rainbowfish (Melanotaenia eachamensis): sex, sibs and shoaling |
topic_facet |
Behavioral Sciences Ecology Zoology Kin Recognition Inbreeding Avoidance Shoaling Fish Group Living Juvenile Arctic Charr Salvelinus-alpinus L Poecilia-reticulata Familiarity Discrimination Preferences Population Animals Guppies 270707 Sociobiology and Behavioural Ecology C1 780105 Biological sciences 0502 Environmental Science and Management 0602 Ecology |
description |
Living with relatives can be beneficial to individuals via the evolution of kin-directed altruism, but this is tempered by the increased risk of inbreeding. Therefore, in social species, the ability to recognise relatives can be highly advantageous. This study focuses on kin discrimination in the Lake Eacham rainbowfish, Melanotaenia eachamensis, an endangered freshwater species from north-east Queensland, Australia. First, I examined kin recognition abilities when a combination of both chemical and visual recognition cues was available. When given a choice of shoaling with same-sex groups, females spent significantly longer with full-sibs rather than half-sibs, full-sibs rather than non-relatives and half-sibs rather than non-relatives. Males spent significantly longer shoaling with full-brothers versus half-brothers, but showed no other shoalmate preferences. Second, in the presence of only chemical cues, females did not discriminate among groups of different levels of relatedness, but males showed a non-significant tendency to associate with full-sibs rather than non-relatives. Male shoaling behaviour seemed to be more influenced by factors other than relatedness, e.g. intra-sexual competition. Finally, I found that the shoaling preferences of females changed when exposed to groups of males. Females preferred to associate with non-relatives rather than half-brothers and non-relatives rather than full-brothers. There was no significant difference in the time spent with half-brothers versus full-brothers. Taken together, my results suggest that females have very good kin recognition abilities. They prefer to shoal with female relatives but avoid male relatives, and so are able to balance the benefits of nepotism and the costs of incest. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Arnold, K. E. |
author_facet |
Arnold, K. E. |
author_sort |
Arnold, K. E. |
title |
Kin recognition in rainbowfish (Melanotaenia eachamensis): sex, sibs and shoaling |
title_short |
Kin recognition in rainbowfish (Melanotaenia eachamensis): sex, sibs and shoaling |
title_full |
Kin recognition in rainbowfish (Melanotaenia eachamensis): sex, sibs and shoaling |
title_fullStr |
Kin recognition in rainbowfish (Melanotaenia eachamensis): sex, sibs and shoaling |
title_full_unstemmed |
Kin recognition in rainbowfish (Melanotaenia eachamensis): sex, sibs and shoaling |
title_sort |
kin recognition in rainbowfish (melanotaenia eachamensis): sex, sibs and shoaling |
publisher |
Springer Verlag |
publishDate |
2000 |
url |
https://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:140255 |
geographic |
Arctic Queensland |
geographic_facet |
Arctic Queensland |
genre |
Arctic charr Arctic Salvelinus alpinus |
genre_facet |
Arctic charr Arctic Salvelinus alpinus |
op_relation |
doi:10.1007/s002650000253 issn:0340-5443 |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1007/s002650000253 |
container_title |
Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology |
container_volume |
48 |
container_issue |
5 |
container_start_page |
385 |
op_container_end_page |
391 |
_version_ |
1766304103895400448 |