Kin Selection for Alarm Calls in
Belding Ground Squirrels (Spermophilus beldingi)
Ground Squirrels live in colonies whose
members are related. Like other mammals, some members of the
colony emit alarm calls at the approach of predators. The
data show that pre-reproductive juveniles males and females
emit calls at about equal rates, whereas reproductive adult
females with offspring and relatives in the colony emit
calls at a substantially higher rate than males, even though
the behavior increases the danger to themselves. The
behavior appears to be partially learned: pre-reproductive
yearling females also emits calls at a higher rates than
males, even though they do not yet have offspring of their
own.