Group Selection

Question 1

What does the theory of group selection hold?

Answer 1

It holds that behaviour that protects a group benefits the individuals in the group.

Question 2

Individuals as a group might survive when they might not survive as individuals.
Why is this?

Answer 2

Because a group can help with protection from predators & protection of resources.

Question 3

How is group selection still direct fitness?

Answer 3

Because it is the individial that benefits, and the individual’s genes that predispose that individual to be a ‘social’ being & live in a group.

Question 4

What is the idea of group selection?

Answer 4

That:

• a group can help with the care of offspring
• there can be adults of different generations in a society
• there can be division of labour within a group

Question 5

‘Eusocial’ refers to…

Answer 5

… groups that function as a whole, with different roles & abilities, such that the individuals couldn’t perform all the required roles alone.