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Holmes and Sherman (1982) on Ground Squirrels

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Encyclopedia of Evolutionary Psychological Science

Synonyms

Comparing phenotypes; Phenotype matching.

Definition

Phenotype matching refers to the ability to detect genetic relatedness based on phenotypic cues of the self or close kin.

Introduction

In laboratory studies it was found that Belding’s ground squirrels (Spermophilus beldingi) are able to recognize kin with which they did not share natal burrows. Related female individuals, even if they were unfamiliar to each other, were less agonistic than unrelated individuals. Field studies also showed that littermate full-sisters treat each other differently than maternal half-sisters. This suggests that both rearing environment and relatedness have crucial contribution to nepotistic behavior in ground squirrels. Similar results with other rodent species imply that learning and recognition of cues of probable genetic relatedness, known as phenotype matching, might be a mechanism which influences social interactions.

Mechanisms of Kin Recognition

Hamilton’s inclusive fitness theory...

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References

  • Bateson, P. P. G. (1983). Optimal outbreeding. In P. P. G. Bateson (Ed.), Mate choice (pp. 257–277). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

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  • Holmes, W. G. (1984). Sibling recognition in thirteen-lined ground squirrels: Effects of genetic relatedness, rearing association, and olfaction. Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology, 14(3), 225–233. doi:10.1007/BF00299622.

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  • Holmes, W. G. (1986b). Kin recognition by phenotype matching in female Belding’s ground squirrels. Animal Behaviour, 34(Part 1), 38–47. doi:10.1016/0003-3472(86)90004-7.

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  • Holmes, W. G., & Sherman, P. W. (1982). The ontogeny of kin recognition in two species of ground squirrels. American Zoologist, 22(3), 491–517. doi:10.1093/icb/22.3.491.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Psychology, University of Pecs, Ifjusag str. 6., 7624, Pecs, Hungary

    Ferenc Kocsor

Authors
  1. Ferenc Kocsor
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Correspondence to Ferenc Kocsor .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Oakland Univ Dept of Psycholgy, Rochester, Michigan, USA

    Viviana Weekes-Shackelford

  2. Department of Psychology, Oakland University, Rochester, Michigan, USA

    Todd K. Shackelford

  3. Rochester, Michigan, USA

    Viviana A. Weekes-Shackelford

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Kocsor, F. (2016). Holmes and Sherman (1982) on Ground Squirrels. In: Weekes-Shackelford, V., Shackelford, T., Weekes-Shackelford, V. (eds) Encyclopedia of Evolutionary Psychological Science. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-16999-6_1497-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-16999-6_1497-1

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-16999-6

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