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An evolutionary analysis of the relationship between spite and altruism
Author(s) -
LEHMANN L.,
BARGUM K.,
REUTER M.
Publication year - 2006
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 - 10.1111/j.1420-9101.2006.01128.x
Subject(s) - trait , biology , altruism (biology) , social evolution , kin selection , inclusive fitness , population , fitness landscape , evolutionary biology , biological evolution , experimental evolution , genetics , demography , sociology , computer science , gene , programming language
We investigate the selective pressures on a social trait when evolution occurs in a population of constant size. We show that any social trait that is spiteful simultaneously qualifies as altruistic. In other words, any trait that reduces the fitness of less related individuals necessarily increases that of related ones. Our analysis demonstrates that the distinction between ‘Hamiltonian spite’ and ‘Wilsonian spite’ is not justified on the basis of fitness effects. We illustrate this general result with an explicit model for the evolution of a social act that reduces the recipient's survival (‘harming trait’). This model shows that the evolution of harming is favoured if local demes are of small size and migration is low (philopatry). Further, deme size and migration rate determine whether harming evolves as a selfish strategy by increasing the fitness of the actor, or as a spiteful/altruistic strategy through its positive effect on the fitness of close kin.