BotterillJames et al_SciReports_2017.pdf (1.08 MB)
Family aggression in a social lizard
journal contribution
posted on 2023-05-19, 06:00 authored by Thomas Botterill-JamesThomas Botterill-James, Benjamin HalliwellBenjamin Halliwell, McKeown, S, Sillince, J, Uller, T, Erik WapstraErik Wapstra, Geoffrey WhileGeoffrey WhileThe evolution of family living is underpinned by conflict and cooperation between family members. While family groups can be maintained by reducing conflict between parents and offspring, interactions between siblings may play an equally important role. Here, we compared the level of aggressive interactions between siblings to that between parents and their offspring in the family living skink Liopholis whitii. Aggressive interactions occurred much more frequently between siblings and between fathers and offspring than between mothers and their offspring. These results suggest that ecological and social conditions that reduce conflict between siblings and between males and offspring will be fundamental in the evolutionary maintenance and diversification of family living in these lizards.
Funding
Australian Research Council
History
Publication title
Scientific ReportsVolume
7Article number
3502Number
3502Pagination
1-5ISSN
2045-2322Department/School
International SchoolPublisher
Nature Publishing GroupPlace of publication
4 Crinan St, London, N1 9XW United KingdomRights statement
Copyright 2017 The Authors. Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Repository Status
- Open