The early history of Hamiltonian-based research on kin recognition

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 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.

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