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Group augmentation and the evolution of cooperation.

Sjouke A Kingma1, Peter Santema2, Michael Taborsky3

  • 1School of Biological Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK; Behavioural Ecology and Self-Organization Group, Centre for Ecological and Evolutionary Studies, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands; Max Planck Institute for Ornithology, Vogelwarte Radolfzell, Radolfzell, Germany.

Trends in Ecology & Evolution
|July 6, 2014
PubMed
Summary

The group augmentation (GA) hypothesis explains altruistic helping in animals. This study conceptualizes GA, showing how group benefits favor the evolution of helping behavior in cooperative breeding.

Keywords:
alloparental carecooperationgroup livinghelpingmutualismreciprocitysociality

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Area of Science:

  • Evolutionary biology
  • Behavioral ecology
  • Animal behavior

Background:

  • The group augmentation (GA) hypothesis proposes that increased reproductive success in cooperative breeding systems favors helping behavior.
  • The hypothesis's applicability is debated due to conceptual and empirical limitations.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To conceptualize the group augmentation (GA) hypothesis.
  • To illustrate the evolutionary mechanisms through which GA benefits can accrue.
  • To provide plausible explanations for the maintenance of helping behavior in cooperatively breeding animals.

Main Methods:

  • Conceptual analysis of the group augmentation (GA) hypothesis.
  • Integration of GA with established theories of group living and cooperation.
  • Review of existing empirical evidence and identification of research gaps.

Main Results:

  • GA benefits can arise through diverse evolutionary pathways linked to group living.
  • These pathways include improved survival and future reproductive success for helpers.
  • The conceptual framework clarifies how GA can maintain cooperative helping.

Conclusions:

  • The group augmentation (GA) hypothesis provides a viable framework for understanding altruistic behavior in cooperative breeders.
  • Clarifying GA mechanisms enhances our understanding of the evolution of social behavior.
  • Further empirical studies are needed to test the specific predictions of the GA hypothesis.