Testing adaptive hypotheses of alloparenting in Agta foragers

Abigail E. Page (), Matthew G. Thomas, Daniel Smith, Mark Dyble, Sylvain Viguier, Nikhil Chaudhary, Gul Deniz Salali, James Thompson, Ruth Mace and Andrea B. Migliano
Additional contact information
Abigail E. Page: London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine
Matthew G. Thomas: University College London
Daniel Smith: University of Bristol
Mark Dyble: University of Cambridge
Sylvain Viguier: University College London
Nikhil Chaudhary: University of Cambridge
Gul Deniz Salali: University College London
James Thompson: University College London
Ruth Mace: University College London
Andrea B. Migliano: University of Zurich

Nature Human Behaviour, 2019, vol. 3, issue 11, 1154-1163

Abstract: Abstract Human children are frequently cared for by non-parental caregivers (alloparents), yet few studies have conducted systematic alternative hypothesis tests of why alloparents help. Here we explore whether predictions from kin selection, reciprocity, learning-to-mother and costly signalling hypotheses explain non-parental childcare among Agta hunter-gatherers from the Philippines. To test these hypotheses, we used high-resolution proximity data from 1,701 child–alloparent dyads. Our results indicated that reciprocity and relatedness were positively associated with the number of interactions with a child (our proxy for childcare). Need appeared more influential in close kin, suggesting indirect benefits, while reciprocity proved to be a stronger influence in non-kin, pointing to direct benefits. However, despite shared genes, close and distant kin interactions were also contingent on reciprocity. Compared with other apes, humans are unique in rapidly producing energetically demanding offspring. Our results suggest that the support that mothers require is met through support based on kinship and reciprocity.

Date: 2019
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DOI: 10.1038/s41562-019-0679-2

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