The socio-genetics of a complex society: Female gelada relatedness patterns mirror association patterns in a multilevel society

Noah Snyder-Mackler, Susan C. Alberts, Thore J. Bergman

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

27 Scopus citations

Abstract

Multilevel societies with fission-fusion dynamics - arguably the most complex animal societies - are defined by two or more nested levels of organization. The core of these societies are modular social units that regularly fission and fuse with one another. Despite convergent evolution in disparate taxa, we know strikingly little about how such societies form and how fitness benefits operate. Understanding the kinship structure of complex societies could inform us about the origins of the social structure as well as about the potential for individuals in these societies to accrue indirect fitness benefits. Here, we combined genetic and behavioural data on geladas (Theropithecus gelada), an Old World Monkey, to complete the most comprehensive socio-genetic analysis of a multilevel society to date. In geladas, individuals in the core social 'units', associate at different frequencies to form 'teams', 'bands' and, the largest aggregations, 'communities'. Units were composed of closely related females, and females remained with their close kin during permanent fissions of units. Interestingly, female-female relatedness also significantly predicted between-unit, between-team and between-band association patterns, while male-male relatedness did not. Thus, it is likely that the socio-genetic structure of gelada society results from females maintaining associations with their female relatives during successive unit fissions - possibly in an attempt to balance the direct and indirect fitness benefits of group living. Overall, the persistence of associations among related females across generations appears to drive the formation of higher levels of gelada society, suggesting that females seek kin for inclusive fitness benefits at multiple levels of gelada society.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)6179-6191
Number of pages13
JournalMolecular ecology
Volume23
Issue number24
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 1 2014
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • fission
  • gelada
  • genetic structure
  • multilevel society

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics
  • Genetics

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