Day 19 Chapter 9

st October 31

Happy Halloween!!!

Darwin
Natural

selection generally works to produce selfish behavior. behavior is common.

Altruistic-appearing Fatal

to his theory?

Apparent Acts of Altruism

Kindness

toward close relatives: kin selection increased fitness of your relatives toward unrelated individuals: reciprocal altruism help me, and Ill help you back

Kindness

Hamiltons Rule
Altruistic-appearing

behavior will occur when the benefits to close relatives are greater than the cost to the individual performing the behavior. are really acting in their own genes best interests.

They

According to Hamiltons rule, if an individual could only help one person, who would they prefer to help?
1. 2. 3. 4. Son with a flat tire Aunt with a flat tire Cousin with a flat tire Stranger with a flat tire

According to Hamiltons rule, if an individual could only help one person, who would they prefer to help?
1. 2. 3. 4. Son with a flat tire Aunt with a flat tire Cousin with a flat tire Stranger with a flat tire

Who are people most likely to bequeath money to upon their death?

Redefining an Individuals Fitness

Direct

fitness fitness

An individuals total reproductive output

Indirect

The reproductive output brought about by altruistic behaviors toward close kin
Inclusive

fitness

The sum of an individuals indirect and direct fitness

Conflicts
Because

different individuals do not share all of the same alleles, we should always expect some conflict. gestational diabetes mother is producing a THOUSAND times the normal amount of insulin

Example:

9.7 Apparent altruism toward unrelated individuals can evolve through reciprocal altruism.

Vampire Bats

In many cases, individuals give blood to unrelated individuals. How might this behavior have arisen? First, -recognize more than a hundred distinct individuals. Second, -receive blood donations from non-relatives reciprocate significantly more than average. And third, -not familiar with each other (and do not have a history of helping each other) generally do not regurgitate for each other.

Are they repaid the favor? Reciprocal Altruism

Storing goodwill Im doing this for you so that

you will do it for me in the future

Were all born with a spare kidney, yet virtually no one donates theirs to non-relatives in need.

Why?

Certain Conditions Must Be Met

1) Repeated interactions among individuals 2) The benefits to the recipient must be significantly greater than the costs to the donor. 3) The ability to recognize and punish cheaters

Why are humans among the only species to have friendships?

Why is it easier to remember gossip than physics equations? - it helps us survive if we recognize cheaters

9.8 In an alien environment, behaviors produced by natural selection may no longer be adaptive.

Behaviors favored by natural selection over evolutionary time can cause individuals to behave in a way that reduces their fitness.

Beldings ground squirrels Craving high-fat foods Donations to refugees

Feels good to help

9.9 Selfish genes win out over group selection.

Does evolution ever lead to behaviors that are for the good of the species or population, while being detrimental to the individual?

If we donate money to save the children or another international charity, is this a purely altruistic behavior?
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Strongly agree Agree Neutral Disagree Strongly disagree

9.10 There are big differences in how much males and females invest in reproduction.

Russian woman had 69 children (in 27 pregnancies).

888 offspring produced by a male (the Emperor of Morocco from 1672 to 1727)

Definition of Male and Female

A

female produces the larger gamete. A male produces the smaller gamete.

The

mothers material contribution to the offspring exceeds the fathers.

Evolution of Differences in Male/Female Behaviors

1) Extent of energetic differences in the reproductive investment.

Why do males usually compete for females rather than the opposite?

About how much greater is the male reproductive output with three mates when compared to the female?

1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

2 times greater 4 times greater 6 times greater 8 times greater 10 times greater

About how much greater is the male reproductive output with three mates when compared to the female?

1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

2 times greater 4 times greater 6 times greater 8 times greater 10 times greater

Differences in Reproductive Investments

Fertilization Lactation

within the female

in female mammals

Offsets and Reversals in Reproductive Investment Examples: Birds

Gestation external No lactation

Offsets and Reversals in Reproductive Investment

Examples: Fish and amphibians
External fertilization

Evolution of Differences in Male/Female Behaviors 1) Extent of energetic differences in the reproductive investment 2) Paternity uncertainty
also has profound influence on reproductive behavior