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Cooperation and the common good.

Rufus A Johnstone1, António M M Rodrigues2

  • 1Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge CB2 3EJ, UK raj1003@hermes.cam.ac.uk.

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|January 6, 2016
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Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Cooperative resource sharing can evolve between unrelated individuals in communal activities. Even with diminishing returns, avoiding conflict over resources benefits all participants, promoting investment in the public good.

Keywords:
kin selectionparental carepublic goodresource competition

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Area of Science:

  • Evolutionary Biology
  • Behavioral Ecology
  • Game Theory

Background:

  • Traditional models often emphasize kin selection for cooperation.
  • Economic literature suggests non-kin cooperation is possible under specific conditions.
  • Resource competition can influence the evolution of cooperative behaviors.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To introduce biologists to an economic model explaining cooperation among non-relatives.
  • To explore the application of this model to biparental care in evolutionary contexts.
  • To analyze the conditions under which resource competition is suppressed in communal activities.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized a sequential game model to simulate parent-offspring resource allocation.
  • Incorporated concepts of public goods (parental care) and private goods (parental survival).
  • Analyzed evolutionary stable strategies regarding resource competition and investment.

Main Results:

  • When both parents invest in offspring care, conflict over resources is evolutionarily stable to avoid.
  • Diminishing returns on investment in public and private goods neutralize benefits of competition.
  • Asymmetric outcomes are possible, where one parent competes and invests while the other abstains.
  • In asymmetric scenarios, the 'abandoned' parent may benefit from the lack of competition.

Conclusions:

  • Cooperative resource sharing can be favored by selection even among unrelated individuals.
  • Parental care models demonstrate that avoiding resource conflict can enhance fitness.
  • Partner abandonment may not always be detrimental, depending on resource competition dynamics.