Climate and the distribution of cooperative breeding in mammals. Issue 1 (January 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Lukas, Dieter; Clutton-Brock, Tim
• Is Part Of: Royal Society open science. Volume 4:Issue 1(2017)
• Publication Date: 2017-01
• Subjects: cooperative breeding -- rainfall -- sociality -- phylogenetic comparison; Science -- Periodicals; 500
• DOI: 10.1098/rsos.160897
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2054-5703

Abstract

Abstract : Cooperative breeding systems, in which non-breeding individuals provide care for the offspring of dominant group members, occur in less than 1% of mammals and are associated with social monogamy and the production of multiple offspring per birth (polytocy). Here, we show that the distribution of alloparental care by non-breeding subordinates is associated with habitats where annual rainfall is low. A possible reason for this association is that the females of species found in arid environments are usually polytocous and this may have facilitated the evolution of alloparental care.