Genes as Cues of Relatedness and Social Evolution in Heterogeneous Environments.

ABSTRACT: There are many situations where relatives interact while at the same time there is genetic polymorphism in traits influencing survival and reproduction. Examples include cheater-cooperator polymorphism and polymorphic microbial pathogens. Environmental heterogeneity, favoring different traits in nearby habitats, with dispersal between them, is one general reason to expect polymorphism. Currently, there is no formal framework of social evolution that encompasses genetic polymorphism. We develop such a framework, thus integrating theories of social evolution into the evolutionary ecology of heterogeneous environments. We allow for adaptively maintained genetic polymorphism by applying the concept of genetic cues. We analyze a model of social evolution in a two-habitat situation with limited

SUBMITTER: Leimar O 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4920369 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature