Dataset Information

Climate and the distribution of cooperative breeding in mammals.

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.

SUBMITTER: Lukas D

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5319355 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Climate and the distribution of cooperative breeding in mammals.

Lukas Dieter D Clutton-Brock Tim T

Royal Society open science 20170118 1

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 a ...[more]

PMID: 28280589

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Dataset Information

Climate and the distribution of cooperative breeding in mammals.

Publications

Climate and the distribution of cooperative breeding in mammals.

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