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Inter‐generational competition and selection for helping behaviour
Author(s) -
Poiani Aldo
Publication year - 1994
Publication title -
journal of evolutionary biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.289
H-Index - 128
eISSN - 1420-9101
pISSN - 1010-061X
DOI - 10.1046/j.1420-9101.1994.7040419.x
Subject(s) - biology , competition (biology) , selection (genetic algorithm) , kin selection , helping behavior , facilitation , inclusive fitness , cooperative breeding , value (mathematics) , evolutionary biology , ecology , statistics , computer science , mathematics , artificial intelligence , neuroscience
A model is presented which considers the effects of inter‐generational competition (IC) for breeding status on selection for helping behaviour. The model shows that for species with both high inter‐generational overlap and high frequency of breeding opportunities within the individual's lifespan, helping behaviour is selected if the relatives raised by the helper through helping (i.e. present indirect fitness gains) do not decrease the helper's future direct fitness as a breeder. This effect is dependent on the value of α, the coefficient of IC. The occurrence of high α values can explain those cases in which a non‐breeding member of a social group does not help. The effect of α can be reduced by means of establishing an age‐based queueing system to attain breeding status. The breeders' acceptance of a non‐helping individual within their territory may be explained as extended parental care or parental facilitation.