ENVS200 Lecture Notes - Lecture 13: Reciprocal Altruism, Behavioral Ecology, Inclusive Fitness
20 Mar 2016
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Document Summary
Behavioural ecology: the study of relationships between organisms and their environment that are mediated by behaviour. Selection and evolution favour behavioural traits (including altruism) that increase the inclusive fitness of individuals: reciprocal altruism: natural selection can favour altruistic behaviour if the altruistic donor can be expected to be repaid later. This is based on recognition and experience: manipulation: altruistic behaviour is carried out because the donor is manipulated. Commonly, the donor has no means of detecting or preventing the altruistic act: kin selection: altruistic behaviour is carried out when individuals pass on more of their genetic material by helping another individual than by not helping. The coefficient of relationship determines the percent of shared genetic material between any two individuals. By helping other related individuals, altruistic organisms are still helping themselves (at least their own genes). Inclusive fitness: determined by an individuals" own survival and reproduction plus the survival and reproduction of those with shared genes; overall fitness.
