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Nature 432, 160-162 (11 November 2004) | doi:10.1038/432160b; Published online 10 November 2004
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Animal behaviour: Rank crime and punishment
Joan E. Strassmann1
Abstract
In paper wasps, facial markings are cheap 'status badges' that would seem to be susceptible to cheating. But wasps punish those whose markings lie. Social competition is, it appears, a strong selective force.
'Badges of status' are markings that animals are thought to use to signal their size and dominance — they are indicators of rank. To be useful, however, they must be 'honest' indicators; a symbol of high rank cannot be adopted by a low-quality individual.
- Joan E. Strassmann is in the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Rice University, Houston, Texas 77251-1892, USA.
e-mail: Email: strassm@rice.edu
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