Cooperation among non-kin Flashcards
What are the conditions that favour the evolution of cooperation between non-kin?
-frequent interactions among cooperators
-long-lasting group contact
-benefits of cooperation outweighing the costs.
Name some examples of cooperative behaviour not explained by kin selection
-group hunting
-predator mobbing
-sentinel
-shoaling
-parasite removal/ feeding
-aphid farming
What is mutualism in the context of cooperative interactions?
Mutualism is a form of cooperation where both parties benefit in a contemporary exchange.
Define Kin selection
Altruistic behavior favored by natural selection when individuals increase the fitness of their relatives at a cost to their own fitness.
Define Reciprocity
A form of cooperation where one party cooperates because they expect to receive something in return in the future.
When is cooperation more likely to succeed? What does this reduce the chance of?
-when cooperators interact more frequently with each other than defectors
-this reduces the chances of cooperators being exploited by defectors
What leads to greater mutual benefits?
increased interactions among cooperators
Groups of cooperators can achieve ______er overall fitness compared to defectors in the population
higher
What can shape social interactions? How?
Simple decision-making rules (stay versus switch groups) can shape social interactions by influencing the formation
and breaking of social ties
Why are small groups generally more cooperative?
because there’s less opportunity for cheating behaviour to spread
What is the Prisoner’s Dilemma?
A scenario in game theory where two players can either cooperate or defect, with varied payoffs depending on their choices.
Define Altruism
A social action that increases another individual’s reproductive success at a cost to one’s own survival and reproduction.
What strategy consistently outperforms others in Axelrod’s tournament on cooperation?
The tit-for-tat strategy, which starts with cooperation and then mimics the opponent’s previous move.
What is Mutualism vs. Reciprocity?
Mutualism benefits both parties immediately, while reciprocity involves delayed benefits for future cooperative behavior.
How does grouping affect cooperation among individuals?
Groups of cooperators achieve higher overall fitness as they interact more frequently with each other than with defectors.
What are Fission-Fusion societies?
Social structures where group members can move between different groups, facilitating different social dynamics.
What are the four necessary conditions for reciprocity?
1) Long contact for exchanges
2) Benefits of receiving must exceed costs of donating
3) Recognition of donors and non-reciprocators
4) Not explainable by other mechanisms like kin selection.
What is a Tit-for-tat strategy?
A game theory strategy that cooperates initially and then mimics the opponent’s last move, promoting mutual cooperation.
How can animals recognize individuals they can cooperate with or those who defect?
Through social memory and recognition abilities that allow them to track past interactions.
What is Manipulation in cooperation?
A form of interaction where cooperation occurs due to enforcement of costs by others, rather than mutual benefit.
Why might small groups be more cooperative than larger groups?
In small groups, there are fewer opportunities for cheating, allowing cooperative behaviors to flourish.
Define Reciprocal altruism
Helping behaviors that yield future direct fitness benefits, differing from true altruism due to mutual benefits.
What is the role of contact and interaction frequency in cooperation among non-kin?
Greater frequency of interactions among cooperators fosters mutual benefits and strengthens social relationships.
Cooperation behavior examples
-Group hunting
-predator mobbing
-sentinel behavior
-shoaling
parasite removal are examples of cooperation not explained by kin selection.
What happens in the absence of recognition in cooperative behaviours?
It can lead to exploitation by non-cooperative individuals, undermining the benefits of cooperation.
What are the conditions for indirect reciprocity?
Requires punishment of non-reciprocators through reputation costs, memory of past interactions, and communication among individuals.
Why is recognition essential for the success of reciprocity?
It allows individuals to identify those who have helped them, ensuring that benefits are returned appropriately to cooperative partners
Define coercion
A mechanism of cooperation where one party is forced to cooperate due to threats of punishment or negative consequences.
What is the significance of fitness payoffs in cooperation?
higher average payoffs, promoting survival and reproductive success compared to defecting behaviours.
What are Social heuristics? What can it influence?
Simple decision-making rules that guide interactions and can influence the formation of cooperative versus non-cooperative groups.
What evidence supports the existence of cooperation in vampire bats?
Vampire bats share food through blood donations, where the act of sharing leads to increased survival for those who receive food, demonstrating reciprocity.
Name the conditions for reciprocity
1) Contact between members of a group must be long enough to ensure
exchanges/repayment opportunity.
2) The gain of receiving must be greater than the cost of donating
3) Individuals must be able to recognise those that donated, and those that did not
reciprocate (cheaters).
4) Cannot be explained by another mechanisms:
e.g. kin selection.
e.g. harassment/coercion
Name the conditions for indirect reciprocity
1) Non-recipricators are punished by lowering their reputation (which leads to costs in future interactions)
2) Players are clever enough to remember your reputation
3) Groups are small enough to remember everyone’s reputation
4) Capacity to communicate
about one anothe
Name an example of Manipulation/punishment
-soybeans punish non-cooperative nitrogen-fixing bacteria (Bradyrhizobium japonicum)
-Bacteria that could not fix nitrogen (i.e. did not
cooperate) grew less well.
Likely through plants decreasing O2 supply to
rhizobia as ‘punishment’
Name an example of coercion
Brood parasites trick non-parents to think cuckoos are their own offspring
and invest in their development
