Relatedness decreases and reciprocity increases cooperation in Norway rats

Manon K Schweinfurth; Michael Taborsky

doi:10.1098/rspb.2018.0035

Relatedness decreases and reciprocity increases cooperation in Norway rats

Proc Biol Sci. 2018 Mar 14;285(1874):20180035. doi: 10.1098/rspb.2018.0035.

Authors

Manon K Schweinfurth^{1

2}, Michael Taborsky³

Affiliations

¹ Behavioural Ecology, Institute of Ecology and Evolution, University of Bern, Wohlenstrasse 50a, 3032 Hinterkappelen, Switzerland manon.schweinfurth@iee.unibe.ch.
² School of Psychology & Neuroscience, University of St Andrews, Westburn Lane, KY16 9JP St Andrews, UK.
³ Behavioural Ecology, Institute of Ecology and Evolution, University of Bern, Wohlenstrasse 50a, 3032 Hinterkappelen, Switzerland.

Abstract

Kin selection and reciprocity are two mechanisms underlying the evolution of cooperation, but the relative importance of kinship and reciprocity for decisions to cooperate are yet unclear for most cases of cooperation. Here, we experimentally tested the relative importance of relatedness and received cooperation for decisions to help a conspecific in wild-type Norway rats (Rattus norvegicus). Test rats provided more food to non-kin than to siblings, and they generally donated more food to previously helpful social partners than to those that had refused help. The rats thus applied reciprocal cooperation rules irrespective of relatedness, highlighting the importance of reciprocal help for cooperative interactions among both related and unrelated conspecifics.

Keywords: Norway rats; cooperation; iterated Prisoner's dilemma; kin selection; reciprocity.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Animals
Cooperative Behavior*
Decision Making*
Male
Rats / genetics*
Rats / psychology*
Social Behavior*

Associated data

figshare/10.6084/m9.figshare.c.4007635