Cooperation among non-kin

Question 1

What are the conditions that favour the evolution of cooperation between non-kin?

Answer 1

-frequent interactions among cooperators
-long-lasting group contact
-benefits of cooperation outweighing the costs.

Question 2

Name some examples of cooperative behaviour not explained by kin selection

Answer 2

-group hunting
-predator mobbing
-sentinel
-shoaling
-parasite removal/ feeding
-aphid farming

Question 3

What is mutualism in the context of cooperative interactions?

Answer 3

Mutualism is a form of cooperation where both parties benefit in a contemporary exchange.

Question 4

Define Kin selection

Answer 4

Altruistic behavior favored by natural selection when individuals increase the fitness of their relatives at a cost to their own fitness.

Question 5

Define Reciprocity

Answer 5

A form of cooperation where one party cooperates because they expect to receive something in return in the future.

Question 6

When is cooperation more likely to succeed? What does this reduce the chance of?

Answer 6

-when cooperators interact more frequently with each other than defectors
-this reduces the chances of cooperators being exploited by defectors

Question 7

What leads to greater mutual benefits?

Answer 7

increased interactions among cooperators

Question 8

Groups of cooperators can achieve ______er overall fitness compared to defectors in the population

Answer 8

higher

Question 9

What can shape social interactions? How?

Answer 9

Simple decision-making rules (stay versus switch groups) can shape social interactions by influencing the formation
and breaking of social ties

Question 10

Why are small groups generally more cooperative?

Answer 10

because there’s less opportunity for cheating behaviour to spread

Question 11

What is the Prisoner’s Dilemma?

Answer 11

A scenario in game theory where two players can either cooperate or defect, with varied payoffs depending on their choices.

Question 12

Define Altruism

Answer 12

A social action that increases another individual’s reproductive success at a cost to one’s own survival and reproduction.

Question 13

What strategy consistently outperforms others in Axelrod’s tournament on cooperation?

Answer 13

The tit-for-tat strategy, which starts with cooperation and then mimics the opponent’s previous move.

Question 14

What is Mutualism vs. Reciprocity?

Answer 14

Mutualism benefits both parties immediately, while reciprocity involves delayed benefits for future cooperative behavior.

Question 15

How does grouping affect cooperation among individuals?

Answer 15

Groups of cooperators achieve higher overall fitness as they interact more frequently with each other than with defectors.

Question 16

What are Fission-Fusion societies?

Answer 16

Social structures where group members can move between different groups, facilitating different social dynamics.

Question 17

What are the four necessary conditions for reciprocity?

Answer 17

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.

Question 18

What is a Tit-for-tat strategy?

Answer 18

A game theory strategy that cooperates initially and then mimics the opponent’s last move, promoting mutual cooperation.

Question 19

How can animals recognize individuals they can cooperate with or those who defect?

Answer 19

Through social memory and recognition abilities that allow them to track past interactions.

Question 20

What is Manipulation in cooperation?

Answer 20

A form of interaction where cooperation occurs due to enforcement of costs by others, rather than mutual benefit.

Question 21

Why might small groups be more cooperative than larger groups?

Answer 21

In small groups, there are fewer opportunities for cheating, allowing cooperative behaviors to flourish.

Question 22

Define Reciprocal altruism

Answer 22

Helping behaviors that yield future direct fitness benefits, differing from true altruism due to mutual benefits.

Question 23

What is the role of contact and interaction frequency in cooperation among non-kin?

Answer 23

Greater frequency of interactions among cooperators fosters mutual benefits and strengthens social relationships.

Question 24

Cooperation behavior examples

Answer 24

-Group hunting
-predator mobbing
-sentinel behavior
-shoaling
parasite removal are examples of cooperation not explained by kin selection.

Question 25

What happens in the absence of recognition in cooperative behaviours?

Answer 25

It can lead to exploitation by non-cooperative individuals, undermining the benefits of cooperation.

Question 26

What are the conditions for indirect reciprocity?

Answer 26

Requires punishment of non-reciprocators through reputation costs, memory of past interactions, and communication among individuals.

Question 27

Why is recognition essential for the success of reciprocity?

Answer 27

It allows individuals to identify those who have helped them, ensuring that benefits are returned appropriately to cooperative partners

Question 28

Define coercion

Answer 28

A mechanism of cooperation where one party is forced to cooperate due to threats of punishment or negative consequences.

Question 29

What is the significance of fitness payoffs in cooperation?

Answer 29

higher average payoffs, promoting survival and reproductive success compared to defecting behaviours.

Question 30

What are Social heuristics? What can it influence?

Answer 30

Simple decision-making rules that guide interactions and can influence the formation of cooperative versus non-cooperative groups.

Question 31

What evidence supports the existence of cooperation in vampire bats?

Answer 31

Vampire bats share food through blood donations, where the act of sharing leads to increased survival for those who receive food, demonstrating reciprocity.

Question 32

Name the conditions for reciprocity

Answer 32

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

Question 33

Name the conditions for indirect reciprocity

Answer 33

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

Question 34

Name an example of Manipulation/punishment

Answer 34

-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’

Question 35

Name an example of coercion

Answer 35

Brood parasites trick non-parents to think cuckoos are their own offspring and invest in their development