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Cited by 363Evolutionary Game Theory and CooperationAnimal Behavior and ReproductionEvolution and Genetic Dynamics

Structured Demes and the Evolution of Group-Advantageous Traits

Wilson, David Sloan·1977·The American Naturalist
DOI 10.1086/283146
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Abstract

1. Most organisms interact with a set of neighbors smaller than the deme (its trait group). Demes therefore are not only a population of individuals but also a population of groups (structured demes). 2. Trait groups vary in their composition. The minimum variance to be expected is that arising from a binomial distribution. Most populations have a higher variance than this due to (a) differential interactions with the environment and (b) the effects of reproduction inside the trait groups. 3. As a consequence of this variation, an individual on the average experiences its own "type" in a greater frequency than actually exists in the deme. Its behaviors are therefore directed differentially toward fellow types, and this is the fundamental requirement for the evolution of altruism. 4. Models are presented for warning cries and other donor-recipient relations, resource notification, the evolution of prudence in exploitation and interference competition, and the effect of differential trait-group extinction. In all cases evolution in structured demes differs from traditional individual-selection models. Individual selection corresponds to the case where there is zero variance among trait groups, that is, complete homogeneity. 5. The "threshold" variance permitting the evolution of altruism (negative fitness change to the donor) is that arising from a binomial distribution. As this is the minimum to be expected in nature, this theory predicts that at least weakly altruistic behavior should be a common occurrence (but see [9]). 6. If a population is overexploiting its resource, a decrease in feeding rate through interference may be selected for given any trait-group variation. 7. When trait groups are composed entirely of siblings (i.e., kin groups), the model is mathematically equivalent to kin selection. 8. As well as increasing population fitness, social systems may also evolve an "immunity" against group-detrimental types. 9. If a given group-advantageous effect can be accomplished through both altruistic and selfish mechanisms, the selfish mechanism will be selected. A paucity of altruistic behaviors may signify that it is usually possible to create the same result selfishly--not that altruism "cannot" be selected for

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  • Wilson constructed his trait group model to demonstrate that group selection at the supraindividual level can lead to the coexistence of altruistic individuals with inferior fitness compared to more selfish, opportunistic ones.

    “Wilson constructed his trait group model (TGM, structured deme model) [39,90] to demonstrate that group selection at the supraindividual level can lead to the coexistence of altruistic individuals with inferior fitness compared to more selfish, opportunistic ones.”

    From Ecology and Evolution in the RNA World Dynamics and Stability of Prebiotic Replicator Systems (2017) · cites this paper as [90]

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Authors
Wilson, D. S.
Corresponding author
Wilson, David Sloan
Venue
The American Naturalist
Publisher
University of Chicago Press
Published
1977-01
Volume
111
Issue
977
Pages
157-185
ISSN
  • 0003-0147 (ISSN-L)
  • 1537-5323
DOI
10.1086/283146
OpenAlex
W2084996678
Cited by
363
References
28
Citations by year
2025: 1 · 2024: 2 · 2023: 2 · 2022: 3 · 2021: 6 · 2020: 22 · 2019: 6 · 2018: 8 · 2017: 4 · 2016: 8 · 2015: 7 · 2014: 4 · 2013: 3 · 2012: 29
FWCI
130.44
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
The American Naturalist (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Evolutionary Game Theory and Cooperation
  • Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics › Animal Behavior and Reproduction
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Genetics › Evolution and Genetic Dynamics
Keywords
evolution of altruism, kin selection, alarm calls, interference competition, kinship groups, individual selection, social evolution

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