Kin selection theory predicts that cooperation is facilitated between genetic relatives, as by cooperating with kin an individual might increase its inclusive fitness. Although numerous theoretical papers support Hamilton's inclusive fitness theory, experimental evidence is still underrepresented, in particular in noncooperative breeders. Cooperative predator inspection is one of the most intri...

Close inbreeding has often been shown to be extremely harmful because of the fixation of deleterious recessive alleles in inbred offspring (Charlesworth & Charlesworth 1987). As a consequence, inbred offspring often show reduced fitness compared with outbred offspring (inbreeding depression, Charlesworth & Charlesworth 1987). The ability to identify relatives (kin recognition, Hepper 1991) offe...

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