Biology 1001A Lecture Notes - Lecture 16: Free Rider Problem, Kin Selection, Inclusive Fitness
20 Jan 2020
School
Department
Course
Document Summary
Individuals often appear to sacrifice their fitness for the good of others. Ex passing up reproduction opportunities (ex helping another couple raise their offspring instead of mating themselves) Ex self-sacrificial behaviour of bees raising the offspring of the queen and not getting their own offspring. Is it altruistic to provide costly care to your descendants? taking care of your own offspring increases your own fitness not really altruistic behaviours: more like a cooperation, not really a problem for the selection theory. Ex squirrels warning others that a predator is coming helping everyone, not direct descendants. May reduce their own survivorship (predator may notice them more easily, etc) Group selection: individuals act selflessly for the good of the group . Groups that are composed of selfless individuals do better than groups that act selfishly: ex colony of squirrels that warn each other does better than those that do not. Kin selection theory expands our view of fitness.
