African starlings show deep bonds beyond kinship, study finds
Are only humans capable of forming deep relationships? According to the latest research published in Nature, this is a universal phenomenon in the animal world. Research conducted on African starlings has shown that these animals can form long-term relationships based on mutual assistance.
As reported by SciTech Daily, scientists have discovered that African starlings engage in long-term relationships based on mutual aid. Until now, scientists believed that cooperation among animals was primarily linked to kinship. However, research conducted over more than two decades by a team led by Alexis Earl, a former doctoral student in the laboratory of Professor Dustin Rubenstein, demonstrates that animals can form relationships and support each other regardless of kinship.
Animals expect reciprocity
The research team, led by former doctoral student Alexis Earl, observed starlings for twenty years. The results reveal that these birds engage in "reciprocity"—they help 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, emphasises that starling societies are complex, containing both related and unrelated individuals. "Many of these birds are essentially forming friendships over time," says Rubenstein.
The research lasted 20 years
The study involved analysing thousands of interactions among hundreds of birds, as well as conducting genetic studies. The investigation aided in understanding how often birds help unrelated individuals even when relatives are present. Rubenstein and his team now plan to explore how these relationships form, how long they last, and why some endure while others dissolve.
This research is part of a broader project that examines various species around the world, including shrimp, wasps, beetles, mice, and lizards. The results could significantly impact our understanding of social behaviours in animals.
