Social evolution: when promiscuity breeds cooperation

Jelle S van Zweden; Dries Cardoen; Tom Wenseleers

doi:10.1016/j.cub.2012.09.003

Social evolution: when promiscuity breeds cooperation

Curr Biol. 2012 Nov 6;22(21):R922-4. doi: 10.1016/j.cub.2012.09.003.

Authors

Jelle S van Zweden¹, Dries Cardoen, Tom Wenseleers

Affiliation

¹ Laboratory of Socioecology and Social Evolution, Department of Biology, University of Leuven, Naamsestraat 59, 3000 Leuven, Belgium.

PMID: 23137690
DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2012.09.003

Abstract

In social evolution theory, it has become common wisdom that close family ties should promote cooperative behaviour. Yet, in social insects, evidence is accumulating that queen promiscuity and low relatedness sometimes work better.

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MeSH terms

Animals
Bees / physiology*
Behavior, Animal*
Female
Male
Sexual Behavior, Animal / physiology*