Fitz Research: Cooperation in the Sociable Weaver

Sociable weavers Philetairus socius are highly social passerines of the semi-arid savannas of the Kalahari region in southern Africa. They cooperate to build large thatched colonies which they occupy throughout the year. They also cooperate to raise their young, with 30-80% of nests being attended by a group consisting of the breeding pair and 1-5 helpers. We have a long-term study on the sociable weavers at Benfontein Game Farm, near Kimberley, where we investigate fascinating aspects of the species’ cooperative behaviour, life-history and population dynamics. Of particular interest are the benefits and consequences of sociality and cooperation in this species, understanding dispersal patterns and population dynamics, and how cooperation is achieved in colony building. More specific projects currently ongoing are investigating maternal investment in relation to helping and dispersal patterns, the role of dominance and signalling in cooperative behaviour and how the ‘tragedy of the commons’ is avoided in nest building and maintenance.

The research team comprises Fitz research associate Dr Rita Covas (CIBIO, University of Porto), Dr Claire Doutrelant (CEFE-CNRS) and Ben Hatchwell (‘Nest building’ project; Sheffield University). To find out more about the project or to make queries about research opportunities (as a research assistant or graduate student) please contact Rita Covas.

For more information about related research see: Cooperative Breeding & Sociality in Birds.