How does the concept of inclusive fitness resolve the evolutionary dilemma presented by cooperative behaviors?
Understand the Problem
The question asks how inclusive fitness explains the evolution of cooperation. Inclusive fitness helps solve the evolutionary dilemma of altruistic or cooperative behaviors by explaining how traits that benefit relatives can still increase an individual's overall genetic success, even if those traits are costly to the individual.
Answer
Inclusive fitness explains cooperation by showing that altruism towards relatives can be beneficial if the benefit to them, adjusted for relatedness, exceeds the cost to the altruist, as described by Hamilton's rule.
Inclusive fitness resolves the evolutionary dilemma of cooperation by suggesting that altruistic behavior can evolve if the benefit to related individuals, weighted by their relatedness to the actor, outweighs the cost to the actor. This is encapsulated in Hamilton's rule.
Answer for screen readers
Inclusive fitness resolves the evolutionary dilemma of cooperation by suggesting that altruistic behavior can evolve if the benefit to related individuals, weighted by their relatedness to the actor, outweighs the cost to the actor. This is encapsulated in Hamilton's rule.
More Information
Hamilton's rule is a central theorem of inclusive fitness theory. It predicts that social behavior evolves under specific combinations of benefit to the recipient, cost to the actor, and genetic relatedness between the actor and the recipient.
Tips
A common mistake is to assume inclusive fitness means an animal is only helping direct relatives. Organisms may benefit in other ways by cooperating.
Sources
- Fitness and inclusive fitness | Animal Behavior Class Notes - Fiveable - library.fiveable.me
- Evolutionary Explanations for Cooperation - ScienceDirect.com - sciencedirect.com
- Inclusive fitness | Definition, Components, & Facts | Britannica - britannica.com
AI-generated content may contain errors. Please verify critical information
