African starlings upend kinship theory with lasting bonds

As reported by SciTech Daily, scientists have discovered that African starlings engage in long-term relationships rooted in mutual assistance. Previously, it was believed that cooperation among animals was linked to kinship. However, research conducted over more than 20 years by a team led by Alexis Earl, a former graduate student in Professor Dustin Rubenstein's lab, has shown that animals can establish supportive relationships with each other irrespective of kinship.

The research team, led by former graduate student Alexis Earl, observed starlings for two decades. The results reveal that these birds engage in "reciprocity"—helping each other with the expectation that the favour will be returned in the future. This discovery alters our understanding of social interactions in the animal kingdom.

Professor Dustin Rubenstein, under whose guidance the research was conducted, emphasizes that starling societies are complex, comprising both related and unrelated individuals. "Many of these birds are essentially forming friendships over time," says Rubenstein.

The research involved analyzing thousands of interactions among hundreds of birds, as well as genetic studies. The experiment helped to understand how often birds assist unrelated individuals, even when relatives are available. Rubenstein and his team now plan to explore how these relationships form, their duration, and why some endure while others dissolve.

This study is part of a broader research initiative that includes diverse species worldwide, such as shrimp, wasps, beetles, mice, and lizards. The findings could significantly impact our understanding of social behaviours among animals.