Environmental adversity and uncertainty favour cooperation

Andras, Peter; Lazarus, John; Roberts, Gilbert

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.

Citation

Andras, P., Lazarus, J., & Roberts, G. (2007). Environmental adversity and uncertainty favour cooperation. BMC Evolutionary Biology, 7, Article 240 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2148-7-240

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Online Publication Date: Nov 30, 2007
• Publication Date: 2007
• Deposit Date: Nov 2, 2021
• Publicly Available Date: Nov 2, 2021
• Journal: BMC Evolutionary Biology
• Publisher: BMC
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 7
• Article Number: 240 (2007)
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2148-7-240
• Keywords: Payoff, Resource Distribution, Adverse Environment, Environmental Uncertainty, Subjective Variance
• Public URL: http://researchrepository.napier.ac.uk/Output/2808719