Family

From EvoWiki

A set of genetically related individuals within a given species. Immediate family is a smaller unit, consisting of parents and offspring. Parents, most commonly in mammals and birds, care for their young until they reach maturity. In almost all cases, the mother acts as protector and obtains food for her young. In many species the male mate of the mother assists in protecting and caring for the young. The formation of family units brings forth a whole variety of behaviours which can be honed via selective pressures: infanticide, harems, monogamy, polygyny, serial monogamy, promiscuity, parental behaviour.

[edit] Taxonomy

A family is part of the hierarchy of groups used to classify organisms in Carolus Linnaeus' system of taxonomy. Families are below order level and above genus level.

[edit] Mating/Family Strategies

Further Reading:

• 175-316 : Evolution, Learning and Culture ... Course Notes, Andy Lock, School of Psychology, Massey University, Palmerston North [1] -- sociobiological studies of human mating.
• Polygyny in great reed warblers: a long term study of factors contributing to male fitness Ecology, Oct, 1998 by Dennis Hasselquist [2]
• The Evolution of Alternative Reproductive Strategies: Fitness Diffferential, Heritability, and Genetic Correlation Between the Sexes (of side blotched lizards) 2001, B. Sinervo & K.R Zamudio [3]
• Subordinate Males in Harem Groups of Jamaican Fruit-Eating Bats (Artibeus jamaicensis): Satellites or Sneaks? Jorge Ortega & Hector T. Arita, Ethology, Volume 108 Issue 12 Page 1077 - December 2002 doi:10.1046/j.1439-0310.2002.00836.x Abstract