Cannibalism is a widespread behavioral phenomenon that is often thought to be an adaptive plastic response to limited environmental resources. However, cannibalism can potentially come at a fitness cost to an individual if one consumes relatives, due to the potential loss of indirect fitness benefits. One way in which this cost could be avoided is by the selective avoidance of cannibalising kin in favour of consuming non-kin conspecifics through the use of kin recognition mechanisms. Here, we examined whether fruit fly (Drosophila melanogaster) 2nd instar larvae differ in their interactions with groups of related and unrelated eggs, and whether this is associated with differential rates of cannibalism. Our experiment revealed that, at this developmental stage larvae appear to be able to distinguish between full-sibling eggs and non-kin eggs, as they behaved differently towards these two groups. Larvae approached groups of unrelated eggs more frequently and spent more time overall associating with them than they did with groups of related eggs. Furthermore, larvae cannibalized unrelated eggs significantly more frequently than kin eggs. These results are consistent with a kin-selection behavioral strategy that maximizes both direct and indirect fitness benefits. We discuss these findings in the context of this species’ natural history, and the potential mechanisms of kin recognition. This study contributes to the growing body of research examining the evolution of social behaviors using this model species.

中文翻译：

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黑腹果蝇幼虫的亲属识别和蛋同类相食

同类相食是一种普遍的行为现象，通常被认为是对有限环境资源的适应性塑料反应。然而，由于间接健康益处的潜在损失，如果一个人食用亲戚，同类相食可能会给个人带来健康成本。可以避免这种成本的一种方法是通过使用亲属识别机制选择性地避免自相残杀的亲属，而有利于消耗非亲属的同种物种。在这里，我们检查了果蝇（黑腹果蝇）二龄幼虫与相关和无关卵群的相互作用是否不同，以及这是否与同类相食的差异率有关。我们的实验表明，在这个发育阶段，幼虫似乎能够区分同卵和非亲卵，因为他们对这两个群体的表现不同。幼虫更频繁地接近不相关的卵群，并且与它们进行整体交往的时间比与相关卵群相比要多。此外，幼虫蚕食无关卵的频率明显高于亲属卵。这些结果与最大化直接和间接健康益处的亲属选择行为策略一致。我们在该物种的自然历史和亲属识别的潜在机制的背景下讨论这些发现。这项研究有助于越来越多的研究使用该模型物种检查社会行为的演变。幼虫更频繁地接近不相关的卵群，并且与它们进行整体交往的时间比与相关卵群相比要多。此外，幼虫蚕食无关卵的频率明显高于亲属卵。这些结果与最大化直接和间接健康益处的亲属选择行为策略一致。我们在该物种的自然历史和亲属识别的潜在机制的背景下讨论这些发现。这项研究有助于越来越多的研究使用该模型物种检查社会行为的演变。幼虫更频繁地接近不相关的卵群，并且与它们进行整体交往的时间比与相关卵群相比要多。此外，幼虫蚕食无关卵的频率明显高于亲属卵。这些结果与最大化直接和间接健康益处的亲属选择行为策略一致。我们在该物种的自然历史和亲属识别的潜在机制的背景下讨论这些发现。这项研究有助于越来越多的研究使用该模型物种检查社会行为的演变。我们在该物种的自然历史和亲属识别的潜在机制的背景下讨论这些发现。这项研究有助于越来越多的研究使用该模型物种检查社会行为的演变。我们在该物种的自然历史和亲属识别的潜在机制的背景下讨论这些发现。这项研究有助于越来越多的研究使用该模型物种检查社会行为的演变。