Altruism in animals and classification : A view

its a review article published in ANUSHANDHAN VATIKA.

1. Anusandhan Vatika ISSN:
Impact Factor: 5.373

5


Kuldeep Gauliya
1
and Arjun Shukla
2
*
1
Dept. of zoology, Indira Gandhi National Tribal University, Amarkantak, INDIA, 484887
2
Dept. of Zoology, Govt. Science College, Jabalpur (M.P.) 482001

Abstract: The integration of altruism, about which the article mainly pursues information, has a key dependency on the
‗how the receiver receives the benefits‘ either that is directly or indirectly. As the altruist and receiver are the two main
components of the altruism, the whole set of action depends upon them. Here the terms interspecies and interspecies are
for understanding the role of the altruist i.e. both are of the same species or from two different species. If there is returning
of the benefit by the receiver to altruist in future, then it is known to be reciprocal altruism. The classes or type of the
mechanism like Guarding, Alarming, feeding Protection has a basis that receiver get benefit instantly and individually or
not.

Keywords : Inter-specific, Intra-specific, Distal, Alarming, Animal.

INTRODUCTION
Altruism can be described precisely as an interaction between the animals in which an individual benefits other at a cost to
itself. It can also be define as sacrifices of owns wellbeing for benefit of others. For an altruistic act to be performed there
should be at least two individuals, one who performs the altruistic act and another who receives the benefit
[P.J.Darlington, Jr. Altruism: Its characteristics and evolution, Nov. 3 1997]. There are some ethologists who describe
mutual relationship as the altruistic behavior, but these two are clear apart from each other in principles. The mutualism is
intended for self-profit itself whereas the altruism is highly intensified for benefit of other at a cost to self. Altruism is rarely
seen in nature. There is no such altruism exist which doesn‘t acquire a bit of selfishness‘. The pure altruism is rarer than
that of altruism itself.

TYPES OF ALTRUISM
As altruism involves interaction of two or more than two animals so it can be inter species or Intra species. When we talk
about Inter species altruism there a concept of social organization of both species because social behavior itself involves the
altruistic behavior of an individual and when we elaborate the Intra species altruism we must tell that where they live and
how they have relationship with each other.
The altruistic behavior in animals can be of three types –
 Intra species altruism
 Inter species altruism
 Reciprocal altruism

INTRA SPECIES ALTRUISM
This type of altruistic behavior of animals involves only a single species. The altruist who performs the altruistic
behavior and the receiver, who receives the benefits, should be of same species. It can be seen in the animals that live in
group like wild water buffalo who live together for searching food and water. While these buffalos are grazing together
and then if a tiger or a lion attack on any one of them, then the some of them who are powerful an already have an
encounter like this in there group, moves to help that one.
Sometimes they won and sometimes they are unable to save there groupie.as this process reduces the chance of survival
of that one who had make an move to help that one hence disproves the Theory of Natural selection given by Darwin
[WD HAMILTON, The Evolution Of the Altruistic Behavior, Sept. 1963 ].

INTER SPECIES ALTRUISM
As the name reveals it is the interaction between the animals of two completely different species in which an
individual of a species is benefited by an individual of another species.

2. Anusandhan Vatika ISSN:
Impact Factor: 5.373

6
The earlier encounters of both species are not necessary. They may or may not know each other but at the time when
anyone of them needs help the other did. Psychologically, the one who helps the member of the other species so it should
must be powerful than the predator so that it can save the other individual and itself also.
Like in case of baboons that helps the other wild animals like Impala, wild dogs, and so many other animals also, always
moves in group when they save someone to reduce the chances of being harmed by the predator.

RECIPROCAL ALTRUISM
It is the special type of the altruism in which the receiver who had received the benefit, in future returns the benefit to
the altruist [R L TRIVERS, The Evolution of Reciprocal Altruism, 1971]. It may also be defined as the exchange of the
benefits between the animals.
It mostly occurs in the related species of the animals as it is necessary that the recipient and altruist must encounter
more than one, only than the returning or exchange of the benefit would become possible . For the better exchange of
the benefit between receiver and altruist they must have an excellent recognizing ability for each other. Being social is
necessary for multiple encounters, and multiple encounters between them increase the probability of reciprocity hence
altruistic act. The reciprocity is similar to mutual type of biological interaction in which two individuals are benefitted
by each other.

MECHANISM OF ALTRUISM IN ANIMALS -
1. Direct mechanism
2. Indirect mechanism
The mechanism deals for the causation that how and by which means altruism can occurs among
animals. The direct and indirect mechanism account that the altruistic behavior can directly provide benefit to receiver
and indirectly also There are abundant examples like service of worker bees, providing protection, help in collecting
food and so many the examples which shows that altruistic act can be perform so diversity.

DIRECT ALTRUISM
The direct altruism comprises all the altruistic acts which are directly linked to receiver and the receiver directly gets
benefit from the altruist. More likely it occurs when the no. of receivers are less so that it can directly reach to intended
receiver.
The intended type of altruism can be seen as following –

FEEDING
Here the feeding stands for the help or benefit received by a member of a group by other member. In this case the
receiver is generally unable to get meals.
As in case of vampire bats they suck the blood from there pray and then donate to their groupie who is unable to access
the meal because of sickness or other reasons [de Waal, Franz (1996). Good Natured. Harvard University Press. pp. 20–
21] [ Perry, Julie (April 19, 2002). "Reciprocal Altruism in Vampire Bats". Retrieved October 10, 2009]. The wilddogs and
wolves bring meat for the one who is absent at the time of killing the pray.It is important to note that it is not necessary
that the one who receives the benefit should be of closely relative of altruist. Any member of the group can receive the
help or benefit whenever they need. By this the altruist itself increases the chances of the survival of that sick and
weaker individual.

PROTECTION ( PROXIMATE)
It can be categorize as a higher class of altruism. The weaker individual get rescue and help from other individual which
may or may not be of their group and species. Mostly it is seen in higher vertebrates and in smaller ones also. As it had
been said it is proximate means the weaker one needs to be saving immediately or instantly. The one who rescue the
weaker individual reduces its chances of survival bye attracting all the attention of the predator towards himself and
reducing the risk for other one. Further it cannot be predicted that the rescuer will able to save the weaker one or will
lose.
For example, African buffalo will rescue a member of the herd captured by predators, [Budzinski, David; Schlosberg,
Jason. "Battle at Kruger". YouTube]. As the baboons and African buffalo take a risk of being killed to save the one from
predator.

3. Anusandhan Vatika ISSN:
Impact Factor: 5.373

7
GAURDING (DISTAL)
Guarding in animals is seen in higher vertebrates as they are capable of saving an individual. Here the remark distal
stands for action which is performed means the weaker one do not needs the helped immediately.
For exampleHarpagiferbispinis, is a species of fish, lives in AntarticPaninsula. When the parents who guards the nest
where the egg is present if removed, then the replacement of the unrelated to the parent guard the brood from predator
[Daniels, R.A. "Nest Guard Replacement in the Antarctic FishHarpagiferbispinis: Possible Altruistic Behavior." Science,
New Series. Vol. 205 No. 4408: (1979): p. 831–833.]. sometimes it is seen that Walruses have been seen adopting orphans
who lost their parents to predators ["Walrus: Odobenidae – Behavior and Reproduction". Retrieved August 12, 2008].

INDIRECT ALTRUISM
The indirect altruism is consist of set of all the altruistic acts which benefits other but the action is not directly related
with altruist and receiver. Usually in this set of mechanism the no of receivers are more, that‘s why the altruistic act is
not related to receiver individually. The Indirect altruism can be seen in following ways –

ALARMING
Alarming is the process by which an individual or a member of a group warns the other member of their respective group
from being harmed by predator. By acting such altruistically the members who give alarm calls attract the predator
towards itself and saving others. The animals in the periphery of alarming zone are also get benefit, but it have less
chances to be occur, because most of the time they are unable to decode the alarm calls. By attracting predator towards
itself reduces its own fitness while increasing that of others.
So here again the altruistic act do not supports the Survival of the Fittest given by Darwin. A new theory comes in
knowledge which was given by W D Hamilton which states that though the animal who give alarm calls reduces
its own fitness, increases the chance of passing of its relatives genes to the next generation, and hence increases the
probability of continuity of its own species [W D HAMILTON, The Evolution Of the Altruistic Behavior, Sept. 1963].

CONCLUSION :
Some wildlife researchers believe that altruism—defined as an act in which an animal sacrifices its own well-being for
the benefit of another animal—is a well-documented behavior. Those who say animal altruism exists cite examples such
as dolphins helping others in need or a leopard caring for a baby baboon.
Altruism is the belief that the well-being of others is equally, if not more, important than the well-being or survival of the
self. Further, altruism involves selfless acts or undertakings that put the welfare of others before one's own.

REFERENCES :
1. P.J.DARLINGTON, Jr. Altruism: Its characteristics and evolution, Nov. 3 1997
2. W.D HAMILTON, The Evolution Of the Altruistic Behavior, Sept. 1963
3. R.L TRIVERS, The Evolution of Reciprocal Altruism, 1971
4. DE WAAL, FRANZ (1996). Good Natured. Harvard University Press. pp. 20–21][Perry, Julie (April 19,
2002). "Reciprocal Altruism in Vampire Bats". Retrieved October 10, 2009]
5. BUDZINSKY, DAVID; SCHLOSBERG, JASAN. "Battle at Kruger". YouTube
6. DANIELS, R.A."Nest Guard Replacement in the Antarctic FishHarpagiferbispinis: Possible Altruistic Behavior."
Science, New Series. Vol. 205 No. 4408: (1979): p. 831–833.
7. "Walrus: Odobenidae – Behavior and Reproduction". Retrieved August 12, 2008