Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 23, 2026
08:03
Heuristic Mining of Hierarchical Genotypes and Accessory Genome Loci in Bacterial Populations
Published on: December 7, 2021
2.1K
Site-specific group selection drives locally adapted group compositions.
Jonathan N Pruitt1, Charles J Goodnight2
1Department of Biological Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15260, USA.
Nature
|October 3, 2014
Summary
Group selection drives population divergence in spider colonies. Experimentally constructed colonies adjusted their composition to match native ratios, demonstrating locally adapted regulatory mechanisms for survival.
Area of Science:
- Evolutionary Biology
- Behavioral Ecology
- Animal Behavior
Background:
- Group selection is a mechanism of evolution where differential extinction or proliferation of groups influences trait frequencies.
- The socially polymorphic spider Anelosimus studiosus displays behavioral differences (docile vs. aggressive phenotypes) within colonies.
- Natural populations exhibit variation in the ratios of docile to aggressive individuals within colonies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To experimentally test the role of group selection in driving population-level divergence of behavioral ratios.
- To investigate whether colonies adjust their composition in response to extinction risk and environmental conditions.
- To determine if mechanisms regulating colony composition are locally adapted.
Main Methods:
- Construction of experimental spider colonies with known compositions of docile and aggressive individuals.
- Observation and analysis of colony survivorship and composition shifts across different sites over two generations.
- Comparison of colony responses in native versus displaced environments.
Main Results:
- Site-specific group selection significantly influenced the divergence of docile:aggressive ratios in experimental colonies.
- Colonies facing extinction risk adjusted their composition to match their native site's characteristic ratio.
- Displaced colonies continued to adjust composition towards ratios beneficial at their original sites, irrespective of the new environment.
Conclusions:
- Experimental evidence supports group selection as a driver of collective traits in wild populations.
- Colony composition regulation mechanisms are locally adapted, promoting survival in natal habitats.
- Behavioral polymorphism and group dynamics are key to understanding adaptation in Anelosimus studiosus.
Related Concept Videos
01:19Impact of Groups on Groups
338
Social psychologists analyze how groups influence one another, shaping social structures and interactions through both cooperation and competition. These dynamics manifest in various ways, ranging from economic partnerships to intergroup conflicts that shape societal structures and perceptions.Cooperation and Competition in Intergroup RelationsIntergroup relationships vary across contexts, sometimes fostering cooperation and mutual benefit while at other times leading to conflict and...
338
01:31In- and Out-Groups
28.4K
People all belong to a gender, race, age, and social economic group. These groups provide a powerful source of our identity and self-esteem (Tajfel & Turner, 1979) and serve as our in-groups. An in-group is a group that we identify with or see ourselves as belonging to.
28.4K
01:23Sampling Plans
1.4K
Sampling is a crucial step in analytical chemistry, allowing researchers to collect representative data from a large population. Common sampling methods include random, judgmental, systematic, stratified, and cluster sampling.
Random sampling is a method where each member of the population has an equal chance of being selected for the sample. It involves selecting individuals randomly, often using random number generators or lottery-type methods. For example, when analyzing the properties of a...
Random sampling is a method where each member of the population has an equal chance of being selected for the sample. It involves selecting individuals randomly, often using random number generators or lottery-type methods. For example, when analyzing the properties of a...
1.4K
02:01Group Design
9.3K
The most basic experimental design involves two groups: the experimental group and the control group. The two groups are designed to be the same except for one difference— experimental manipulation. The experimental group gets the experimental manipulation—that is, the treatment or variable being tested—and the control group does not. Since experimental manipulation is the only difference between the experimental and control groups, we can be sure that any differences between...
9.3K
01:28Impact of Groups on Individuals
637
Groups play a fundamental role in shaping individual behavior, as they establish norms that guide interactions and decision-making. Social psychology examines how individuals conform to group expectations, often adjusting their attitudes and actions to align with group norms. These norms can be formal, such as workplace policies, or informal, such as unspoken social expectations within a fraternity.Conformity and Social InfluenceConformity arises when individuals modify their behaviors or...
637
02:53Conservative Site-specific Recombination and Phase Variation
5.7K
Because the DNA segments are cut and reorganized in a direction-specific manner, site-specific recombination has emerged as an efficient genetic engineering technique. Flippase and Cyclization recombinases or Flp and Cre, respectively, are two members of the tyrosine recombinase family derived from bacteriophages, that are used to mediate site-specific DNA insertions, deletions, and targeted expression of proteins in mammalian cell lines.
The recognition sites for Cre recombinase called LoxP...
The recognition sites for Cre recombinase called LoxP...
5.7K