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L22: Cooperation (Reciprocity (Helping another individual simply because…
L22: Cooperation
What is Cooperation?
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A behaviour is only cooperation if it is selected for in the donor because of its effects on the recipient
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Kin Selection
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There can be hidden benefits e.g. in superb fairy-wrens, concealed helpers increase egg size
Reciprocity
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Works best when animals have repeated interactions with the same individuals - how each individual plays the game is important
Individuals remember and recognise freeloaders, and will deny cooperation with these individuals in future interactions
Only works if individuals now who they are helping, and who is helping them - anonymity encourages cheating
Vampire bats:
Insufficient food can cause overnight starvation, so individuals regurgitate blood meals for those that didn't get enough - benefits outweigh costs of sharing because it can save your life
Enforcement
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Superb Fairy Wrens:
Use enforcement to maintain cooperation, slackers are punished
By-product Benefits
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Both parties are acting in their own self interest, and cooperation is merely an unintentional consequence
E.g. cooperating in a hunt is better than freeloading - sharing a successful hunt is better than freeloading off a poor hunt, or having no reward at all
Group augmentation in meerkats:
Sometimes outsiders (males) are allowed to join the group and help to raise young (bigger groups better for the donor)
Seychelles Warbler
There are both male and female 'helpers' that help to raise another pairs offspring...why? Kin selection and direct fitness benefits
Complicating the situation...
Extra-pair matings are very common
Female helpers often lay their own egg in the nest
Male helpers often father some of the offspring
Male vs. female helpers:
Females show more kin discrimination and are more likely to help a female that was at the helpers nest when she was a chick