Gut microbiome composition, not alpha diversity, is associated with survival in a natural vertebrate population
Background The vertebrate gut microbiome (GM) can vary substantially across individuals
within the same natural population. Although there is evidence linking the GM to health in …
within the same natural population. Although there is evidence linking the GM to health in …
Fitness consequences of outgroup conflict
In social species across the animal kingdom, conspecific outsiders threaten the valuable
resources of groups and their members. This outgroup conflict is recognised as a powerful …
resources of groups and their members. This outgroup conflict is recognised as a powerful …
Breeders that receive help age more slowly in a cooperatively breeding bird
Helping by group members is predicted to lead to delayed senescence by affecting the trade-
off between current reproduction and future survival for dominant breeders. Here we …
off between current reproduction and future survival for dominant breeders. Here we …
The evolution of delayed dispersal and different routes to breeding in social birds
Many animals live in stable groups, where sexually mature individuals delay dispersal and
stay as nonbreeding subordinates, seemingly counter to their own evolutionary interests …
stay as nonbreeding subordinates, seemingly counter to their own evolutionary interests …
Telomere length reveals cumulative individual and transgenerational inbreeding effects in a passerine bird
K Bebbington, LG Spurgin, EA Fairfield… - Molecular …, 2016 - Wiley Online Library
Inbreeding results in more homozygous offspring that should suffer reduced fitness, but it
can be difficult to quantify these costs for several reasons. First, inbreeding depression may …
can be difficult to quantify these costs for several reasons. First, inbreeding depression may …
Investigating social and environmental predictors of natal dispersal in a cooperative breeding bird
Natal dispersal is a crucial life-history trait that affects both individual fitness and population
structure, yet drivers of variation in dispersal probability and distance are difficult to study in …
structure, yet drivers of variation in dispersal probability and distance are difficult to study in …
Delayed dispersal and the costs and benefits of different routes to independent breeding in a cooperatively breeding bird
Why sexually mature individuals stay in groups as nonreproductive subordinates is central
to the evolution of sociality and cooperative breeding. To understand such delayed …
to the evolution of sociality and cooperative breeding. To understand such delayed …
Life-history and genetic relationships in cooperatively breeding dwarf mongoose groups
Cooperatively breeding societies show distinct interspecific variations in social and genetic
organization. Long-term studies provide invaluable data to further our understanding of the …
organization. Long-term studies provide invaluable data to further our understanding of the …
Convergent evolution of kin-based sociality in a lizard
Studies of social birds and mammals have produced extensive theory regarding the
formation and dynamics of kin-based social groups in vertebrates. However, comparing kin …
formation and dynamics of kin-based social groups in vertebrates. However, comparing kin …
A test of the dear enemy hypothesis in female New Zealand bellbirds (Anthornis melanura): female neighbors as threats
DH Brunton, B Evans, T Cope, W Ji - Behavioral Ecology, 2008 - academic.oup.com
The “dear enemy” hypothesis proposes that the level of territorial aggression toward
conspecific neighbors is lower than that shown toward strangers primarily because of …
conspecific neighbors is lower than that shown toward strangers primarily because of …