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Environmental adversity and uncertainty favour cooperation

Lookup NU author(s): Dr John Lazarus

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Abstract

Background. A major cornerstone of evolutionary biology theory is the explanation of the emergence of cooperation in communities of selfish individuals. There is an unexplained tendency in the plant and animal world - with examples from alpine plants, worms, fish, mole-rats, monkeys and humans - for cooperation to flourish where the environment is more adverse (harsher) or more unpredictable. Results. Using mathematical arguments and computer simulations we show that in more adverse environments individuals perceive their resources to be more unpredictable, and that this unpredictability favours cooperation. First we show analytically that in a more adverse environment the individual experiences greater perceived uncertainty. Second we show through a simulation study that more perceived uncertainty implies higher level of cooperation in communities of selfish individuals. Conclusion. This study captures the essential features of the natural examples: the positive impact of resource adversity or uncertainty on cooperation. These newly discovered connections between environmental adversity, uncertainty and cooperation help to explain the emergence and evolution of cooperation in animal and human societies. © 2007 Andras et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.

Publication metadata

Author(s): Andras P, Lazarus J, Roberts G

Publication type: Article

Publication status: Published

Journal: BMC Evolutionary Biology

Year: 2007

Volume: 7

Issue: 1

Pages: 240

ISSN (print): 1471-2148

ISSN (electronic):

Publisher: BioMed Central Ltd.

URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/1471-2148-7-240

DOI: 10.1186/1471-2148-7-240

PubMed id: 18053138

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