Presentation Details
| Social partner choice impacts cooperation and fitness in Paper wasp nest-founding queens Emily C.Laub1, Noa Pinter-Wollman2, Elizabeth A.Tibbetts1. 1University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.2University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA |
Abstract
Much theoretical work proposes that social partner choice, where animals actively invest in social relationships with some individuals at the exclusion of others, plays an important role in the evolution of cooperative behavior. Here, we present a novel test of how partner choice impacts the stability of social relationships and reproductive success through manipulating partner choices in paper wasp nest-founding queens (Polistes fuscatus). Nest-founding queens spend several weeks assessing potential partners before settling down to nest in cooperative groups. In this experiment, we allowed nest-founding queens to assess potential partners, then moved groups of wasps to naturalistic enclosures. Groups of wasps had either chosen each other as partners (chosen) or interacted but not chosen each other as partners (assigned). Choosing social partners had strong effects on social behavior and success. Wasps in chosen groups formed longer lasting social relationships and built more productive nests than wasps in assigned groups. Our results suggest that active choice of social partners plays an important role in the formation and success of cooperative relationships.
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No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the author.
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