Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 8, 2026
07:34
Probing the Limits of Egg Recognition Using Egg Rejection Experiments Along Phenotypic Gradients
Published on: August 22, 2018
The coevolution of choosiness and cooperation
John M McNamara1, Zoltan Barta, Lutz Fromhage
1Department of Mathematics, University of Bristol, University Walk, Bristol BS8 1TW, UK.
Nature
|January 11, 2008
Summary
Competitive altruism drives cooperation by increasing generosity and choosiness. Evolutionary simulations show that behavioral variation, influenced by mutation, is key to maintaining cooperation, with lifespan playing a critical role.
Area of Science:
- Evolutionary biology
- Behavioral ecology
- Game theory
Background:
- Cooperation is fundamental to biological systems and societies.
- Competitive altruism arises when cooperativeness influences partner choice, leading to generosity competition.
- The evolution of cooperation between non-relatives is often explained by positive feedback loops.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the evolutionary dynamics of cooperation driven by competitive altruism.
- To determine the factors influencing the equilibrium degree of cooperativeness in repeated interactions.
- To explore the role of behavioral variation and lifespan in the maintenance of cooperation.
Main Methods:
- Evolutionary simulations were employed to model pairwise interactions.
- The model focused on the interplay between cooperativeness and choosiness.
- Behavioral variation, maintained by mutation, was a critical parameter.
Main Results:
- The equilibrium level of cooperativeness is highly sensitive to the amount of behavioral variation in the population.
- Positive feedback between cooperativeness and choosiness can drive the evolution of cooperation.
- Lifespan emerged as a significant factor influencing the evolution of cooperative strategies.
Conclusions:
- Behavioral variation is crucial for the maintenance of cooperation in models of competitive altruism.
- The model provides a simplified framework applicable across diverse species, avoiding complex mechanisms.
- Lifespan significantly impacts the evolutionary trajectory of cooperation between non-relatives.
Related Concept Videos
01:20Evolutionary Psychology
Evolutionary psychology explores the origins of human behavior and mental processes by framing them within the context of natural selection, a theory famously propounded by Charles Darwin. This field asserts that many behaviors common across human societies — ranging from instinctive fear reactions to complex social interactions — arose as evolutionary adaptations. These adaptations enhanced the survival and reproductive success of our ancestors, thereby becoming embedded in the human psyche...
01:26Microbial Interactions: Cooperation
Microbial cooperation involves beneficial interactions in which different species work together for individual or mutual advantage. These interactions can profoundly influence ecological dynamics and evolutionary processes, and they are essential to many pathogenic and symbiotic relationships.Nematode–Bacteria CooperationA striking example is the relationship between the Gram-negative bacterium Xenorhabdus nematophila and the parasitic nematode Steinernema carpocapsae. Juvenile nematodes...
01:38Limits to Natural Selection
Organisms that are well-adapted to their environment are more likely to survive and reproduce. However, natural selection does not lead to perfectly adapted organisms. Several factors constrain natural selection.For one, natural selection can only act upon existing genetic variation. Hypothetically, redtusks may enhance elephant survival by deterring ivory-seeking poachers. However, if there are no gene variants—or alleles—for redtusks, natural selection cannot increase the prevalence of...
00:57Inclusive Fitness
Most altruistic behavior—in which one animal helps another at a cost to themselves—occurs between relatives. Scientists think these altruistic behaviors evolved because they increase the inclusive fitness of the animal providing help.
01:28Factors Influencing Attraction IV: Reciprocity
Reciprocity in attraction is fundamental to social and romantic relationships, shaping how individuals form and maintain connections. The psychological principle underlying this phenomenon is that people tend to like those who express liking toward them. Balance theory supports this tendency, suggesting that mutual attraction fosters psychological harmony, whereas one-sided affection leads to discomfort and cognitive dissonance.The Psychological Mechanisms Behind ReciprocityWhen individuals...
01:21Frequency-dependent Selection
When the fitness of a trait is influenced by how common it is (i.e., its frequency) relative to different traits within a population, this is referred to as frequency-dependent selection. Frequency-dependent selection may occur between species or within a single species. This type of selection can either be positive—with more common phenotypes having higher fitness—or negative, with rarer phenotypes conferring increased fitness.Positive Frequency-Dependent SelectionIn positive...