The evolution of ageing in cooperative breeders

Kreider, Jan J.; Kramer, Boris H.; Komdeur, Jan; Pen, Ido

doi:10.1101/2022.03.04.482977

Cited by 3 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 67 publications

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“…Due to haplodiploidy, helping females can lay haploid unfertilised eggs and thus produce male offspring [58][59][60][61][62][63] . Furthermore, in some species without irreversibly determined reproductive and non-reproductive castes, helping can enhance a helper's chance for inheriting the breeder position later in its life 64 .…”

Section: Commitment To Reproductive or Non-reproductive Tasksmentioning

confidence: 99%

The evolution of eusociality: Kin selection theory, division of labour models, and evo-devo explanations

Kreider¹,

Pen²

2022

Preprint

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The evolution of eusociality has long been recognized as an evolutionary paradox. We identify three different but complementary approaches to the study of the evolution of eusociality. Kin selection models explain why individuals can evolve to have distinct reproductive or non-reproductive roles. Division of labour models elucidate how specialisation can emerge and evolve. Conceptual models from evolutionary developmental biology propose hypotheses for the origin and evolutionary fixation of a helper-phenotype. However, we argue that none of these three approaches is a sufficient explanation for the evolution of eusociality on its own. Consequently, we plead for novel unifying explanations and formal models to better understand the interrelation of reproductive altruism, task specialisation and phenotypic plasticity.

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Section: Commitment To Reproductive or Non-reproductive Tasksmentioning

confidence: 99%

The evolution of eusociality: Kin selection theory, division of labour models, and evo-devo explanations

Kreider¹,

Pen²

2022

Preprint

Self Cite

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“…For example, previous work has found mixed evidence for extended lifespan in cooperative breeders [54][55][56][57] , and some evidence for differences in rates of senescence between cooperative and non-cooperative breeders 58 . Previous theory suggests that it is longer life and overlapping generations that initially favour cooperation 26 , but also that a delayed age of first reproduction as a result of queuing for reproduction might be a self-reinforcing mechanism for extended lifespan in cooperative breeders 59 . However, multiple other facets of the demography of cooperative breeding systems, including the process of group formation 60 , the structure of dominance hierarchies 61 and levels of reproductive skew 62 all have the potential to play a role in determining lifespan and rates of senescence.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Inclusive fitness forces of selection in an age-structured population

Roper

Green

Salguero‐Gómez

et al. 2022

Preprint

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Current evolutionary theories of senescence predict that the force of selection on survival will decline from maturity to zero at the age of last reproduction, and the force of selection on reproduction will decline monotonically from birth. These predictions rest upon the assumption that individuals within a population do not interact with one another. This assumption, however, is violated in social species, where an individual’s survival and/or reproduction may shape the fitness of other group members. In such species, it is inclusive fitness that natural selection optimises. Yet, it remains unclear how the forces of selection on survival and reproduction might be modified when inclusive fitness, rather than population growth rate, is considered the appropriate metric for fitness. Here, we derive inclusive fitness forces of selection for hypothetical populations of social species. We show that selection on survival is not always constant before maturity, and can remain above zero in post-reproductive age classes, contrary to conventional models of senescence. We also show how the trajectory of the force of selection on reproduction does not always decline monotonically from birth, as predicted by classical theory, but instead depends on the balance of benefits to direct fitness and costs to indirect fitness. Our theoretical framework provides the unique opportunity to expand our understanding of senescence across social species, with important implications to species with variable life histories.

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“…For example, previous work has found mixed evidence for extended lifespan in cooperative breeders (54 – 57), and some evidence for differences in rates of senescence between cooperative and non-cooperative breeders (58). Previous theory suggests that it is longer life and overlapping generations that initially favour cooperation (26), but also that a delayed age of first reproduction as a result of queuing for reproduction might be a self-reinforcing mechanism for extended lifespan in cooperative breeders (59). However, multiple other facets of the demography of cooperative breeding systems, including the process of group formation (60), the structure of dominance hierarchies (61) and levels of reproductive skew (62) all have the potential to play a role in determining lifespan and rates of senescence.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Inclusive fitness forces of selection in an age-structured population

Roper

Green

Salguero‐Gómez

et al. 2022

Preprint

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Current evolutionary theories of senescence predict that the force of selection on survival will decline from maturity to zero at the age of last reproduction, and the force of selection on reproduction will decline monotonically from birth. These predictions rest upon the assumption that individuals within a population do not interact with one another. This assumption, however, is violated in social species, where an individuals survival and/or reproduction may shape the fitness of other group members. In such species, it is inclusive fitness that natural selection optimises. Yet, it remains unclear how the forces of selection on survival and reproduction might be modified when inclusive fitness, rather than population growth rate, is considered the appropriate metric for fitness. Here, we derive inclusive fitness forces of selection for hypothetical populations of social species. We show that selection on survival is not always constant before maturity, and can remain above zero in post-reproductive age classes, contrary to conventional models of senescence. We also show how the trajectory of the force of selection on reproduction does not always decline monotonically from birth, as predicted by classical theory, but instead depends on the balance of benefits to direct fitness and costs to indirect fitness. Our theoretical framework provides the unique opportunity to expand our understanding of senescence across social species, with important implications to species with variable life histories.

show abstract

The evolution of ageing in cooperative breeders

Cited by 3 publications

References 67 publications

The evolution of eusociality: Kin selection theory, division of labour models, and evo-devo explanations

The evolution of eusociality: Kin selection theory, division of labour models, and evo-devo explanations

Inclusive fitness forces of selection in an age-structured population

Inclusive fitness forces of selection in an age-structured population

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