Starks, P. T. 2004: Recognition systems: From components to conservation. — Ann. Zool. Fennici 41: 689–690. Holmes, W. 2004: The early history of Hamiltonian-based kin recognition research theory/past and future. — Ann. Zool. Fennici 41: 691–711. Tsutsui, N. D. 2004: Scents of self: The expression component of self/non-self recognition systems. — Ann. Zool. Fennici 41: 713–727. Mateo, J. M. 2004: Recognition systems and biological organization: The perception component of social recognition. — Ann. Zool. Fennici 41: 729–745. Liebert, A. & Starks, P. T. 2004: The action component of recognition systems: a focus on the response. — Ann. Zool. Fennici 41: 747–764. Thom, M. D. & Hurst, J. L. 2004: Individual recognition by scent. — Ann. Zool. Fennici 41: 765–787. Gamboa, G. J. 2004: Kin recognition in eusocial wasps. — Ann. Zool. Fennici 41: 789–808. Lewis, S., Cratsley, C. & Demary, K. 2004: Mate recognition and choice in Photinus fireflies. — Ann. Zool. Fennici 41: 809–821. Göth, A. & Hauber, M. 2004: Ecological approaches to species recognition in birds through studies of model and non-model species. — Ann. Zool. Fennici 41. 823–842. Payne, C. M., Tillberg, C. V. & Suarez, A. V. 2004: Recognition systems and biological invasions. — Ann. Zool. Fennici 41: 843–858. Reed, J. M. 2004: Recognition behavior based problems in species conservation. — Ann. Zool. Fennici 41: 859–877. Cross, P. C., Lloyd-Smith, J. O., Bowers, J. A., Hay, C. T., Hofmeyr, M. & Getz, W. M. 2004: Integrating association data and disease dynamics in a social ungulate: bovine tuberculosis in African buffalo in the Kruger National Park. — Ann. Zool. Fennici 41: 879–892. Holmes, W. 2004: The early history of Hamiltonian-based kin recognition research theory/past and future. — Ann. Zool. Fennici 41: 691–711. Back to the top
Tsutsui, N. D. 2004: Scents of self: The expression component of self/non-self recognition systems. — Ann. Zool. Fennici 41: 713–727. Back to the top
Mateo, J. M. 2004: Recognition systems and biological organization: The perception component of social recognition. — Ann. Zool. Fennici 41: 729–745. Back to the top
Liebert, A. & Starks, P. T. 2004: The action component of recognition systems: a focus on the response. — Ann. Zool. Fennici 41: 747–764. Back to the top
Thom, M. D. & Hurst, J. L. 2004: Individual recognition by scent. — Ann. Zool. Fennici 41: 765–787. Back to the top
Gamboa, G. J. 2004: Kin recognition in eusocial wasps. — Ann. Zool. Fennici 41: 789–808. Back to the top
Lewis, S., Cratsley, C. & Demary, K. 2004: Mate recognition and choice in Photinus fireflies. — Ann. Zool. Fennici 41: 809–821. Back to the top
Göth, A. & Hauber, M. 2004: Ecological approaches to species recognition in birds through studies of model and non-model species. — Ann. Zool. Fennici 41. 823–842. Back to the top
Payne, C. M., Tillberg, C. V. & Suarez, A. V. 2004: Recognition systems and biological invasions. — Ann. Zool. Fennici 41: 843–858. Back to the top
Reed, J. M. 2004: Recognition behavior based problems in species conservation. — Ann. Zool. Fennici 41: 859–877. Back to the top
Cross, P. C., Lloyd-Smith, J. O., Bowers, J. A., Hay, C. T., Hofmeyr, M. & Getz, W. M. 2004: Integrating association data and disease dynamics in a social ungulate: bovine tuberculosis in African buffalo in the Kruger National Park. — Ann. Zool. Fennici 41: 879–892.
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Kin recognition, differential treatment of conspecifics based on correlates of genetic relatedness, is a central topic in the field of behavioral ecology, which became a focus of empirical investigation thanks largely to W. D. Hamilton's (1964) theory of inclusive fitness. In this review of early research on kin recognition, I (1) describe the abstract theoretical idea that catalyzed much of the original kin recognition research, (2) examine some of the conceptual issues that are part of the kin recognition literature, including various definitions of kin recognition, (3) describe some of the classic early research programs on kin recognition, (4) review the work that Paul W. Sherman and I did on the kin recognition abilities and mechanisms of ground squirrels (Spermophilus), and (5) offer some thoughts on valuable avenues to pursue in future kin recognition studies.
The ability to distinguish self from non-self is one of the fundamental organizing principles of life on Earth. Such recognition systems permit the unification of distinct elements into cohesive social groups, from multicellular organisms to colonial "superorganisms". Although the phenomenon of self/non-self recognition has been studied extensively, recent advances have provided fascinating glimpses into the inner workings of recognition systems, and have illuminated some of the extreme forms of selection that drive the evolution of label polymorphism. This polymorphism permits different classes of individuals to be distinguished with high precision, thus creating barriers to outsiders who seek entry into the social group. Here I review the structure and evolution of self/non-self recognition systems across a variety of taxa, with particular attention to the selective forces that maintain label polymorphism. I highlight recent findings that have opened up new avenues of research, and suggest future directions that may provide additional novel insights.
Recognition of conspecifics is necessary for differential treatment of individuals in a variety of social contexts, such as territory establishment and defense, dominance hierarchies, reciprocal altruism, mate choice, parent-offspring interactions and nepotistic contexts, to name a few. Here I first review various categories of perceptual mechanisms of social discrimination, focusing largely on the extensive literature on the perception component of kin recognition, although the ideas presented here can and have been used for analyses of recognition at many levels of social organization. I then discuss a range of recognition mechanisms observed in a model species, Belding's ground squirrels, and how socio-ecological factors influence the development and expression of each mechanism. Finally, I address several theoretical and empirical controversies in the kin-recognition literature which pertain to the perceptual component of recognition, as well as areas in need of additional investigation.
The action component of recognition systems is concerned with the response of an evaluator to perceived cues, based on the dissimilarity of those cues compared with a template. Building upon the historical focus on kin recognition, we apply the framework of conspecific acceptance thresholds to recognition in a broader sense, including interactions within and between organisms, between species, and between living and nonliving things. We review examples from a variety of taxa and recognition contexts to demonstrate when a discriminatory response is expected, and how this response may be flexible depending on the costs and benefits of recognition errors and the interaction rate with cue-bearers in a given environment. Investigation of response flexibility must incorporate natural and life history data as well as controlled laboratory studies whenever possible in order to separate flexibility due to perceptual differences from shifting acceptance thresholds.
Individual recognition requires the ability to discriminate multiple animals according to their unique features. How animals do this will depend on the relative benefits to the evaluator and the cue-bearer; individuals may be discriminated either by the use of non-specific cues that are sufficiently variable to allow individual identification, or by a specific, evolved signal. Individuality information may be coded in a number of ways, although scent appears to be the primary modality for individual recognition in many species. We discuss the cue characteristics necessary to code individuality reliably, and review the bioassays that have been used to assess individual recognition ability. Although there is much indirect evidence for individual recognition by scent, many of the widely-used paradigms focus on the detectability of differences between odours rather than their function, or are compromised by the differing familiarity of odours. Further work should concentrate instead on functional assays that can disentangle odour discrimination from the role of odours in communicating individuality.
Greenberg's landmark publication (Science 206[1979]: 1095-1097) on kin recognition in sweat bees was followed closely by experimental studies of kin recognition in primitively eusocial paper wasps. These early studies of recognition in social wasps concentrated on documenting nestmate recognition ability, which then stimulated interest in the mechanism subserving recognition ability. For the major portion of my review, I summarize our current understanding of kin, brood, and nest recognition ability in social wasps and its underlying mechanism, relying primarily on paper wasps (Polistes) as a model system. In my discussion of the mechanism of recognition, I review our understanding of the perception, expression, and action components of recognition. I also provide a synopsis of the recent recognition studies of two species of Polistes and their congeneric, obligate social parasites. Finally, I discuss our understanding of the ecology of kin recognition in social wasps and then close my review by contemplating the future directions of kin recognition research.
This paper offers a view of firefly mate recognition and choice seen through the lens of recognition system theory. We review the expression and perception of firefly bioluminescent signals, and describe the photic cues used by Photinus fireflies (Coleoptera: Lampyridae) in the processes of species recognition (identifying conspecifics) and mate-quality recognition (discriminating among potential conspecific mates). The signal characters used by Photinus females to discriminate among potential mates include flash pulse rate and pulse duration, similar temporal characters to those assessed by females in acoustically signaling insects. We also review male nuptial gift production and transfer, and describe the relationship found between male flash signals and nuptial gift size for Photinus ignitus. We present evidence of mate choice by Photinus males, which appear to allocate limited resources by rejecting low fecundity females. We assess the potential for postcopulatory female choice to mediate mate acceptance errors by increasing paternity success of higher quality mates, or blocking fertilizations by low quality mates. Finally, we integrate recognition system and mate choice theoretical approaches to develop predictions concerning how various factors will alter both male and female mate acceptance thresholds for Photinus fireflies.
All birds propagate sexually and reproduction critically depends on individuals' abilities to secure matings within their own species. Discrimination of conspecifics from heterospecifics may also improve fitness in many additional social contexts, including foraging, roosting, migrating, and antipredator behaviour, that are separate from mating. Understanding the developmental basis of any universal behavioural trait, including avian species recognition, may benefit from the development and use of model systems where genetic, ontogenetic, and environmental variables can be identified and controlled. Indeed, extensive initial progress in the study of social affiliation and preference in birds was made based on laboratory studies of a handful of precocial and altricial species, especially in the context of filial and sexual imprinting. This research helped to establish ontogenetic paradigms and generated testable hypotheses for further laboratory and field studies of both avian and non-avian taxa regarding the importance of imprinting and early experience in the development of social choice. Here, we review and interpret the findings of species recognition studies in the context of ecological variation in avian taxa across gradients of parental care strategies, including "non-parental" megapodes and brood parasites. We highlight the benefits of a recent paradigm shift to describe the importance of non-imprinting based recognition mechanisms in the study of avian recognition systems and argue to include the full range of life history variation that birds exhibit in order to confirm or reject long-standing hypotheses regarding the constraints and flexibilities of avian cognitive architecture and their contributions to species recognition systems.
Recognition systems are an integral component of the biology of all species. The highly tuned nature of many recognition systems may make them particularly sensitive to environmental and genetic changes. In this review, we examine how biological invasions influence recognition systems and discuss how plasticity in recognition systems may contribute to the success of species in new environments. Specifically we discuss how demographic and genetic consequences of the invasion process may influence allorecognition, intraspecific, and interspecific interactions. Possible research directions are discussed including the value of comparing species' recognition systems between native and introduced populations.
Recognition system theory was developed as a tool to investigate kin selection and mate choice, but can be applied to a wide variety of biological systems. Recognition behavior is central to species persistence, and might contribute to understanding and solving some problems in species conservation. In this paper I identify the role recognition behavior can play in some problems central to species conservation, including survey methods, habitat selection, mating success, maintaining genetic variability, predator avoidance, and pest deterrence and control. For each topic I identify ways in which taking advantage of the recognition template, threshold position, discrimination, or cue manipulation might be used to resolve species conservation problems. The framework that has been developed for studying recognition systems shows promise as a research framework for refining study of the behavioral issues affecting species persistence.
Recognition is a prerequisite for non-random association amongst individuals. We explore how non-random association patterns (i.e. who spends time with whom) affect disease dynamics. We estimated the amount of time individuals spent together per month using radio-tracking data from African buffalo and incorporated these data into a dynamic social network model. The dynamic nature of the network has a strong influence on simulated disease dynamics particularly for diseases with shorter infectious periods. Cluster analyses of the association data demonstrated that buffalo herds were not as well defined as previously thought. Associations were more tightly clustered in 2002 than 2003, perhaps due to drier conditions in 2003. As a result, diseases may spread faster during drought conditions due to increased population mixing. Association data are often collected but this is the first use of empirical data in a network disease model in a wildlife population.