title: Tragedy of the commons in Melipona bees.
abstract: In human society selfish use of common resources can lead to disaster, a situation known as the 'tragedy of the commons' (TOC). Although a TOC is usually prevented by coercion, theory predicts that close kinship ties can also favour reduced exploitation. We test this prediction using data on a TOC occurring in Melipona bee societies.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Apiculture and Social Insects, Department of Animal and Plant Sciences, University of Sheffield, Sheffield S10 2TN, UK. tom.wenseleers@bio.kuleuven.ac.be
authors.forename: Tom
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Wenseleers
authors.forename: Francis L W
authors.initials: FL
authors.lastname: Ratnieks
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001516:Bees / Q000502:physiology*; D005075:Biological Evolution; D003163:Competitive Behavior / Q000502:physiology; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D005260:Female; D012098:Reproduction / Q000502:physiology; D012930:Social Dominance