Alloparenting in Mammals

Homepage
Overview
Recipient Breeder
Helpers Not Independent Breeders
Why Help?
Infants
Evolutionary Definitions
Species Specific Behavior
References
Case Study

Cotton Top Tamarin and young , Photo Copyright, Douglas Janson

Seemingly altruistic behaviors were “the thorn in Darwin’s side.”  Darwin noted that the choice by some animals not to breed was the one behavior that could dispel his theory of natural selection.  Hamilton in his 1964 paper, Genetic Evolution of Social Behavior, explained this “altruistic” behavior with his theory of inclusive fitness.  From the publishing of Hamilton’s paper to date, scientists have examined the evolution of “altruistic” behaviors for alternative explanations. This website provides a brief overview of these scientists’ examination of alloparenting in mammals.  It presents the evolution of more intensive helping behaviors in detail and examines the effects helping activity has on the alloparent, current breeder, and infant.  *Note all species pictured on this webpage exhibit alloparenting behaviors*

This website was completed in partial fulfillment of the requirements for an undergraduate
course -- Biology 323: Animal Behavior -- at Davidson College in the Spring Semester 2009.

Please send any comments, questions, or suggestions regarding this website to Bekah Landfried or Verna Case.