Competition decreases with relatedness and lek size in mole crickets: a role for kin selection?

摘要

Are “leks,” where males advertise in groups for females to gain mating opportunities, the result of competition, or cooperation? In the prairie mole cricket Gryllotalpa major, we present evidence that 1) males display near relatives and 2) males on smaller, more highly related leks experience lower levels of competition. These data suggest that kin selection may be operating within kin clusters on leks and males likely gain a reproductive benefit by displaying nearby relatives.