Rethinking cross-fostering designs for studying kin recognition mechanisms

2001 ◽  
Vol 61 (2) ◽  
pp. 503-505 ◽  
Author(s):  
Josephine Todrank ◽  
Giora Heth
Keyword(s):  
Kin Recognition ◽  
Cross Fostering ◽  
Kin Recognition Mechanisms

Does low fecundity reflect kin recognition and inbreeding avoidance in the mandarin vole (Microtus mandarinus)?

2002 ◽  
Vol 80 (12) ◽  
pp. 2150-2155 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tai Fadao ◽  
Sun Ruyong ◽  
Wang Tingzheng
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Relatedness ◽  
Kin Recognition ◽  
Inbreeding Avoidance ◽  
The Other ◽  
Phenotype Matching ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Rearing Conditions ◽  
Vaginal Cytology ◽  
Cross Fostering ◽  
Mandarin Vole

The effects of kin recognition on estrus and breeding in mandarin voles (Microtus mandarinus) were investigated in the laboratory using a cross-fostering method. Nonsiblings reared apart produced significantly more litters than siblings or nonsiblings reared together. These results may support the hypothesis that familiarity through association before weaning plays an important role in kin recognition. On the other hand, nonsiblings reared apart produced significantly more litters than siblings reared apart. Furthermore, there was no significant difference in number of litters between siblings reared apart and siblings reared together. These observations show that phenotype-matching mechanisms of kin recognition may operate in conjunction with familiarity in kin recognition in this species. Through observing the vaginal cytology of female mandarin voles paired with different males in different rearing conditions, it was found that females paired with familiar males (through association before weaning) produced significantly fewer estrous smears than females paired with unfamiliar males (reared by different parents before weaning), regardless of genetic relatedness. Thus, using vaginal cytology as an indicator of estrus, it was found that familiarity through association before weaning may retard the first estrus of female mandarin voles.

scholarly journals Same father, same face: Deep learning reveals selection for signaling kinship in a wild primate

2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (22) ◽  
pp. eaba3274 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. J. E. Charpentier ◽  
M. Harté ◽  
C. Poirotte ◽  
J. Meric de Bellefon ◽  
B. Laubi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Artificial Intelligence ◽  
Deep Learning ◽  
Social Relationships ◽  
Genetic Relatedness ◽  
Kin Recognition ◽  
Phenotypic Evolution ◽  
Mandrillus Sphinx ◽  
Facial Resemblance ◽  
Selection For ◽  
Kin Recognition Mechanisms

Many animals rely on facial traits to recognize their kin; however, whether these traits have been selected specifically for this function remains unknown. Using deep learning for face recognition, we present the first evidence that interindividual facial resemblance has been selected to signal paternal kinship. Mandrills (Mandrillus sphinx) live in matrilineal societies, in which females spend their entire lives not only with maternal half-sisters (MHS) but also with paternal half-sisters (PHS). We show that PHS have more differentiated social relationships compared to nonkin, suggesting the existence of kin recognition mechanisms. We further demonstrate that facial resemblance increases with genetic relatedness. However, PHS resemble each other visually more than MHS do, despite both kin categories sharing similar degrees of genetic relatedness. This paternally derived facial resemblance among PHS indicates selection to facilitate kin recognition. This study also highlights the potential of artificial intelligence to study phenotypic evolution.

scholarly journals Family-specific chemical profiles provide potential kin recognition cues in the sexually cannibalistic spider Argiope bruennichi

2021 ◽  
Vol 17 (8) ◽  
pp. 20210260
Author(s):  
Katharina Weiss ◽  
Jutta M. Schneider
Keyword(s):  
Chemical Cues ◽  
Kin Recognition ◽  
Large Body ◽  
Kin Discrimination ◽  
Specific Chemical ◽  
Chemical Profiles ◽  
Observed Behaviour ◽  
Cuticular Profiles ◽  
Kin Recognition Mechanisms ◽  
Solitary Species

Kin recognition, the ability to detect relatives, is important for cooperation, altruism and also inbreeding avoidance. A large body of research on kin recognition mechanisms exists for vertebrates and insects, while little is known for other arthropod taxa. In spiders, nepotism has been reported in social and solitary species. However, there are very few examples of kin discrimination in a mating context, one coming from the orb-weaver Argiope bruennichi . Owing to effective mating plugs and high rates of sexual cannibalism, both sexes of A. bruennichi are limited to a maximum of two copulations. Males surviving their first copulation can either re-mate with the current female (monopolizing paternity) or leave and search for another. Mating experiments have shown that males readily mate with sisters but are more likely to leave after one short copulation as compared with unrelated females, allowing them to search for another mate. Here, we ask whether the observed behaviour is based on chemical cues. We detected family-specific cuticular profiles that qualify as kin recognition cues. Moreover, correlations in the relative amounts of some of the detected substances between sexes within families indicate that kin recognition is likely based on subsets of cuticular substances, rather than entire profiles.

Evolution of kin recognition mechanisms in a fish

2016 ◽  
Vol 20 (2) ◽  
pp. 367-370
Author(s):  
Timothy J. A. Hain ◽  
Shawn R. Garner ◽  
Indar W. Ramnarine ◽  
Bryan D. Neff
Keyword(s):  
Kin Recognition ◽  
Kin Recognition Mechanisms

Cross-fostering as a means to study kin recognition

2004 ◽  
Vol 68 (6) ◽  
pp. 1451-1459 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jill M. Mateo ◽  
Warren G. Holmes
Keyword(s):  
Kin Recognition ◽  
Cross Fostering
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