Sierra Nevada Aquatic Research Laboratory

20 Apr, 10 AM - 27 Aug, 02 AM

Many species, including humans, can discriminate among individuals according to genetic relatedness. Yet how this kin recognition is accomplished remains largely unexplored. Belding?s ground squirrels, Spermophilus beldingi, are group-living squirrels that exhibit many forms of nepotism (preferential treatment of relatives), including cooperative territory defense and predator avoidance, which require the ability to identify relatives. The PI?s previous NSF-supported research showed that S. beldingi produce at least six individually distinct odors which can be used for social recognition, as well as several odors that vary with relatedness. The proposed research seeks to demonstrate for the first time a direct, causal association between odors, recognition mechanisms and preferential treatment of relatives. These studies will determine how this species uses odors for recognition, examine the limits of kin discrimination, and describe how kin-recognition abilities facilitate inbreeding avoidance. The ability of animals to use different recognition mechanisms in different contexts would be favored in unpredictable social environments. Theory also predicts that animals will avoid mating with close kin; these studies will therefore determine whether kin-recognition abilities also function in mate choice, using observational and genetic techniques. They will test whether the recognition abilities used to treat particular kin classes favorably are the same as those used to avoid close inbreeding. This research program is among the first to examine if particular odors have numerous, overlapping functions and whether there are commonalities between the mechanisms of recognition in multiple contexts. Given the importance of social relationships for understanding speciation, population dynamics, mating systems and reproductive success, the proposed research offers a unique opportunity to integrate both mechanistic and functional levels of analysis for an understanding of kin recognition in both mating and nepotistic contexts. Recognition abilities can either promote or limit adaptive responses to kin, and the combined field and laboratory components of this research will facilitate exploration of these outcomes. The results of the proposed research can be applied to studies of social recognition in a variety of taxonomic groups, and can also be applied to captive breeding and re-introduction programs, particularly if social recognition influences the formation and stability of social groups or their mating success. Related student research will examine the physiological mechanisms underlying cooperation and temperament, using observations of free-living squirrels as well as experimental approaches. Names and dates of assistants will follow.

Visit #20322 @Sierra Nevada Aquatic Research Laboratory

Approved

Under Project # 997 | Research

University of Chicago - Institute for Mind and Biology

faculty - University of Chicago

Reservation Members(s)

Group of 2 Graduate Student Apr 20 - Aug 27, 2010 (130 days)
Group of 4 Research Assistant (non-student/faculty/postdoc) Apr 20 - Aug 27, 2010 (130 days)

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Q8 6 Apr 20 - Aug 27, 2010