Consider the Figure below about multilevel selection. a. What would have happene

Question

Consider the Figure below about multilevel selection.

a. What would have happened to the frequency of cooperators in the global population if all groups had two cooperators and one selfish individual? Why?  

b. What would have happened to the frequency of cooperators in the global population if the cooperators and selfish individuals had sorted themselves into separate groups composed of individuals who behave similarly (either entirely cooperators or entirely selfish)? Why?

O Cooperative O Selfish oo Frequency of O-0.5 Frequency of O Frequency of O Groups form at random. Individuals reproduce; fitness Frequency of O 311Frequency of Os Groups break up Figure 12.21 How cooperation can increase in frequency under multilevel selection

Explanation / Answer

a. If all the groups had two cooperators and one selfish individual, it would mean that the starting frequency of cooperators is 2/3 or 0.67. One generation later, it would result in a frequency of 5/8 or 0.625. Therefore if all the groups begin with two cooperators and one selfish individual, it would result in a decline of the frequency of cooperators.

b. If the cooperators and selfish individuals has sorted themselves into seperate groups composed of individuals who behaved similarly, it would result in an increase in the global frequency of cooperators. This is because groups consisting entirely of cooperators would have more progeny than groups consisting entirely of selfish individuals. Groups consisting entirely of selfish individuals show lower reproduction.

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