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Capturing the superorganism: a formal theory of group adaptation
Author(s) -
GARDNER A.,
GRAFEN A.
Publication year - 2009
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.1420-9101.2008.01681.x
Subject(s) - group selection , adaptation (eye) , selection (genetic algorithm) , group (periodic table) , population , analogy , biology , framing (construction) , epistemology , cognitive science , sociology , artificial intelligence , computer science , psychology , neuroscience , philosophy , chemistry , demography , organic chemistry , structural engineering , engineering
Adaptation is conventionally regarded as occurring at the level of the individual organism. However, in recent years there has been a revival of interest in the possibility for group adaptations and superorganisms. Here, we provide the first formal theory of group adaptation. In particular: (1) we clarify the distinction between group selection and group adaptation, framing the former in terms of gene frequency change and the latter in terms of optimization; (2) we capture the superorganism in the form of a ‘group as maximizing agent’ analogy that links an optimization program to a model of a group‐structured population; (3) we demonstrate that between‐group selection can lead to group adaptation, but only in rather special circumstances; (4) we provide formal support for the view that between‐group selection is the best definition for ‘group selection’; and (5) we reveal that mechanisms of conflict resolution such as policing cannot be regarded as group adaptations.