Evol Ecol Res 13: 747-752 (2011)     Full PDF if your library subscribes.

Altruism in viscous populations revisited: competition and altruism do not exactly cancel even in the island model

Michael C. Whitlock and J. David Van Dyken

Department of Zoology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada

Correspondence: M.C. Whitlock, Department of Zoology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada.
e-mail: whitlock@zoology.ubc.ca

ABSTRACT

Background: Hamilton suggested that cooperation would evolve most readily in viscous (low dispersal) populations, because nearby individuals would have high genetic relatedness. However, Taylor (1992) found that the indirect fitness gains achieved by cooperation with relatives is exactly offset by local competition, preventing true altruism from evolving no matter the degree of relatedness or population viscosity.

Question: Does local density regulation exactly cancel the indirect fitness benefits of altruism in Taylor’s model?

Mathematical method: Inclusive fitness theory following the derivation of Taylor (1992).

Key assumptions: Relatedness depends on the effective deme size, Ne, but the distribution of fitness benefits depends on its census size, N.

Conclusions: For Taylor’s model, the exact cancellation of the indirect fitness benefits of altruism by local competition requires the special case where Ne = N, a condition not often observed in nature. Even in Taylor’s model, the benefits of altruism depend on relatedness, rather than just direct benefits. When Ne < N, as is commonly observed, true altruism can evolve, and it is more likely to do so when populations are more viscous. Local competition is important, but it requires restrictive conditions to exactly negate the effects of cooperation among relatives in a viscous population.

Keywords: altruism, competition, cooperation, inclusive fitness, island model, viscosity.

DOWNLOAD A FREE, FULL PDF COPY
IF you are connected using the IP of a subscribing institution (library, laboratory, etc.)
or through its VPN.

 

        © 2011 Michael C. Whitlock. All EER articles are copyrighted by their authors. All authors endorse, permit and license Evolutionary Ecology Ltd. to grant its subscribing institutions/libraries the copying privileges specified below without additional consideration or payment to them or to Evolutionary Ecology, Ltd. These endorsements, in writing, are on file in the office of Evolutionary Ecology, Ltd. Consult authors for permission to use any portion of their work in derivative works, compilations or to distribute their work in any commercial manner.

       Subscribing institutions/libraries may grant individuals the privilege of making a single copy of an EER article for non-commercial educational or non-commercial research purposes. Subscribing institutions/libraries may also use articles for non-commercial educational purposes by making any number of copies for course packs or course reserve collections. Subscribing institutions/libraries may also loan single copies of articles to non-commercial libraries for educational purposes.

       All copies of abstracts and articles must preserve their copyright notice without modification.