10.5061/DRYAD.R70N0
Gingins, Simon
University of Neuchâtel
Bshary, Redouan
University of Neuchâtel
Werminghausen, Johanna
University of Tübingen
Johnstone, Rufus A.
University of Cambridge
Grutter, Alexandra S.
University of Queensland
Data from: Power and temptation cause shifts between exploitation and
cooperation in a cleaner wrasse mutualism
Dryad
dataset
2013
partner control
Labroides dimidiatus
Halichoeres melanurus
2013-05-22T18:15:43Z
2013-05-22T18:15:43Z
en
https://doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2013.0553
37656 bytes
1
CC0 1.0 Universal (CC0 1.0) Public Domain Dedication
In many instances of cooperation, only one individual has both the
potential and the incentive to ‘cheat’ and exploit its partner. Under
these asymmetric conditions, a simple model predicts that variation in the
temptation to cheat and in the potential victim's capacity for
partner control leads to shifts between exploitation and cooperation.
Here, we show that the threat of early termination of an interaction was
sufficient to induce cleaner wrasse Labroides dimidiatus to feed
selectively against their preference (which corresponds to cooperatively
eating client fish ectoparasites), provided that their preference for
alternative food was weak. Under opposite conditions, cleaners fed
selectively according to their own preference (which corresponds to
cheating by eating client mucus). By contrast, a non-cleaning fish
species, Halichoeres melanurus, failed to adjust its foraging behaviour
under these same conditions. Thus, cleaners appear to have evolved the
power to strategically adjust their levels of cooperation according to the
circumstances.
Gingins-Bshary_power-temptation_PROCB2013Results of laboratory experiments
involving Labroides dimidiatus and Halichoeres melanurus. Individuals of
both species were tested in a foraging experiments designed to be
ecologically relevant for Labroides dimidiatus.RESULTS_FINAL.txt