Abstract

Some animal societies, particularly primates and corvids, live in complex social groups based on enduring social bonds, which are hypothesized to favour the evolution of sophisticated cognitive skills in these species. A key unresolved issue for understanding the evolution of complex sociality and the associated advanced cognition is to uncover the fitness advantages that social relationships convey to individuals. In my talk, I will present recent findings on individual benefits of social relationships in captive groups of carrion crows. Individuals with strong social bonds were more successful in aggressive encounters, showed less stress-related behaviours and excreted less gastrointestinal parasite products. Ultimately, these advantages of strong social relationships might be important in driving the evolution of complex group living.