Evolutionary transitions to cooperative societies in fishes revisited

• DOI: 10.1111/eth.12813
• Publication Date: 2018-10-28T14:19:33Z
• Authors: Hirokazu Tanaka; Joachim G. Frommen; Stephan Koblmüller; Kristina M. Sefc; Matthew McGee; Masanori Kohda; Satoshi Awata; Michio Hori; Michael Taborsky
• Keywords: Sociality; Phylogenetic comparative methods; Cooperative breeding; Social Evolution; Cichlid

Abstract Unravelling the evolution of complex social organization in animals is an important aim, not least because it helps to understand evolutionary roots human sociality. Recent advances comparative methods allow approach this question a phylogenetic context. The validity such approaches depends strongly on quality information regarding behaviour, sociality, and reproduction natural systems, reconstruction. Applying novel approach, recent study Dey et al. ( , Nature Ecology & Evolution, 1, 137) concluded that transitions cooperative breeding cichlid fishes were associated with mating pattern. Here we argue result was adversely affected by equivocal classifications patterns, inadequate data. In order illustrate impact system misclassifications, scored patterns as reported original literature re‐analysed dataset based al.’s tree topology. suggests does fact significantly explain transition lamprologine cichlids, but submit reliable conclusion cannot be reached before improving behavioural underlying problems identified case are unique urge caution interpretation results from studies general. We do agree ) though cichlids Lake Tanganyika may constitute fundamental test for theory evolution, better their behaviour relationships needed meaningful analyses.