KIN SELECTION AND TERRITORIALITY IN BIRDS - TEST

An examination has been made of the frequency and consequences in great tits (Parus major L.) of nesting in territories adjacent to those of close relatives. When kin-adjacent individuals were compared with average members of the population there was no evidence of enhanced reproductive success. Although in some cases breeding performance was better than expected it could not be attributed to the nearby presence of close relatives. When kin-adjacent individuals were compared with great tits that did not nest next to close relatives which were breeding in the same year as themselves, male close relatives nesting in contiguous territories commenced breeding earlier than expected. No other differences in breeding performance were detected. The observed frequencies of kin adjacent territories reflected the known patterns of natal dispersal. © 1979.