How disease constrains the evolution of social systems.

ABSTRACT: Animal populations are occasionally shocked by epidemics of contagious diseases. The ability of social systems to withstand epidemic shocks and mitigate disruptions could shape the evolution of complex animal societies. We present a mathematical model to explore the potential impact of disease on the evolutionary fitness of different organizational strategies for populations of social species whose survival depends on collaborative efficiency. We show that infectious diseases select for a specific feature in the organization of collaborative roles-cohort stability-and that this feature is costly, and therefore unlikely to be maintained in environments where infection risks are absent. Our study provides evidence for an often-stated (but rarely supported) claim that pathogens have been the

SUBMITTER: Udiani O 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7575520 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature