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Selection as a domain-general evolutionary process
1Oslo Metropolitan University, Department of Behavioral Sciences, PO Box 4 St. Olavs plass, NO-0130 Oslo, Norway.
Behavioural Processes
|December 27, 2017
Summary
Behavioral traits evolve through selection acting on variation during an organism's life span and across generations. This study integrates developmental and evolutionary selection processes, highlighting their role in shaping extended phenotypes.
Area of Science:
- Evolutionary biology
- Behavioral science
- Developmental biology
Background:
- Organismal behavior arises from selection on trait variation across ontogeny and phylogeny.
- Adaptive processes involve environment-phenotype feedback loops.
- Behavioral selection is traditionally studied separately in developmental and evolutionary contexts.
Purpose of the Study:
- To integrate ontogenetic and phylogenetic selection processes in a cross-disciplinary approach.
- To elaborate on the Extended Evolutionary Synthesis by linking selection to various behavioral phenomena.
- To demonstrate the domain-general nature of selection acting on behavior.
Main Methods:
- Cross-disciplinary review integrating behavior analysis and evolutionary biology.
- Elaboration on the Extended Evolutionary Synthesis framework.
- Analysis of selection as a dynamic, iterative feedback loop.
Main Results:
- Selection acts as a domain-general process influencing diverse behaviors like conditioning and gene-culture coevolution.
- The concept of an extended phenotype, shaped by niche construction, is supported.
- Selection processes operate iteratively across both ontogenetic and phylogenetic timescales.
Conclusions:
- Selection is a fundamental, domain-general process shaping behavior across ontogeny and phylogeny.
- Integrating developmental and evolutionary perspectives enriches our understanding of behavioral adaptation.
- The Extended Evolutionary Synthesis provides a robust framework for studying behavior in an evolutionary context.
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