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<p>The cichlids of Lake Tanganyika exhibit remarkable ecological diversity and serve as a model system for studying social evolution. However, the social structures of many species remain poorly understood because they occur in deep-water environments. In this study, we examined the social structure and helping behavior of <i>Neolamprologus buescheri</i>, a cichlid species inhabiting deep-water rocky crevices in Lake Tanganyika. Behavioral observations in their natural habitat revealed that breeding groups consisted of up to four subordinates sharing a territory with breeding females. The number of subordinates was positively correlated with the body size of breeding females and negatively correlated with the frequency of territorial defense behavior per individual. This suggests that subordinates may reduce the parental care costs of breeding females, supporting the notion that this species engages in cooperative breeding. SNPs isolated from GRAS-Di confirmed strong kinship between subordinates and dominant breeders, indicating that subordinates are offspring who delayed dispersal from the natal territory. Despite high kinship within a population, we observed a lower inbreeding coefficient and higher heterozygosity compared with other cooperative breeders. This suggests that while kin-based social structures contribute to territory cohesion and defense, the species also maintains genetic diversity at the population level.</p>

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Social composition and relatedness of the cooperatively breeding cichlid Neolamprologus buescheri inhabiting the deep water of Lake Tanganyika

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2025年7月25日

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  • Shun Satoh,
  • Yuki Yoshio,
  • Masaya Morita

摘要

The cichlids of Lake Tanganyika exhibit remarkable ecological diversity and serve as a model system for studying social evolution. However, the social structures of many species remain poorly understood because they occur in deep-water environments. In this study, we examined the social structure and helping behavior of Neolamprologus buescheri, a cichlid species inhabiting deep-water rocky crevices in Lake Tanganyika. Behavioral observations in their natural habitat revealed that breeding groups consisted of up to four subordinates sharing a territory with breeding females. The number of subordinates was positively correlated with the body size of breeding females and negatively correlated with the frequency of territorial defense behavior per individual. This suggests that subordinates may reduce the parental care costs of breeding females, supporting the notion that this species engages in cooperative breeding. SNPs isolated from GRAS-Di confirmed strong kinship between subordinates and dominant breeders, indicating that subordinates are offspring who delayed dispersal from the natal territory. Despite high kinship within a population, we observed a lower inbreeding coefficient and higher heterozygosity compared with other cooperative breeders. This suggests that while kin-based social structures contribute to territory cohesion and defense, the species also maintains genetic diversity at the population level.