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On Wright's mechanism for intergroup selection.

H Harpending1, A Rogers

  • 1Department of Anthropology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park 16802.

Journal of Theoretical Biology
|July 7, 1987
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

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This study models intergroup selection, revealing it strongly favors group traits despite local opposition. Small subpopulation size and higher immigration rates enhance this effect, challenging gene-centric evolution theories.

Area of Science:

  • Evolutionary Biology
  • Population Genetics
  • Theoretical Ecology

Background:

  • Evolutionary theory traditionally emphasizes individual or gene-level selection.
  • Understanding group-level selection is crucial for explaining cooperation and altruism.
  • Wright's (1945) model of intergroup selection provides a framework for studying group-level evolutionary dynamics.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To describe and analyze a haploid model of Wright's intergroup selection.
  • To investigate the conditions under which intergroup selection can overcome local (individual) selection.
  • To evaluate the role of subpopulation size and migration rates in intergroup selection dynamics.

Main Methods:

  • Development of a haploid mathematical model for intergroup selection.

Related Experiment Videos

  • Approximate analytical solutions to the model.
  • Monte Carlo simulations to validate analytical results and explore model behavior.

    • Main Results:

    • Wright's intergroup selection mechanism effectively promotes group-advantageous traits, even against strong opposing local selection.
    • Selection for group traits is enhanced by smaller local subpopulation sizes.
    • Higher rates of immigration into local groups also favor intergroup selection, though the effect is less pronounced.

    Conclusions:

    • Intergroup selection can be a powerful evolutionary force, shaping traits at the group level.
    • The findings challenge the exclusive focus on genic selfishness in evolutionary biology.
    • Model parameters like subpopulation size and migration rates significantly influence the efficacy of group selection.