Partner choice promotes cooperation: The two faces of testing with agent-based models

Reciprocity is one of the most debated among the mechanisms that have been proposed to explain the evolution of cooperation. While a distinction can be made between two general processes that can underlie reciprocation (within-pair temporal relations between cooperative events, and partner choice based on benefits received), theoretical modelling has concentrated on the former, while the latter has been often neglected. We developed a set of agent-based models in which agents adopted a strategy of obligate cooperation and partner choice based on benefits received. Our models tested the ability of partner choice both to reproduce significant emergent features of cooperation in group living animals and to promote the evolution of cooperation. Populations formed by agents adopting a strategy of obligate cooperation and partner choice based on benefits received showed differentiated "social relationships" and a positive correlation between cooperation given and received, two common phenomena in animal cooperation. When selection across multiple generations was added to the model, agents adopting a strategy of partner choice based on benefits received outperformed selfish agents that did not cooperate. Our results suggest partner choice is a significant aspect of cooperation and provides a possible mechanism for its evolution. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Publication type: 
Articolo
Author or Creator: 
Campenni, Marco
Schino, Gabriele
Publisher: 
Academic Press,, London,, Regno Unito
Source: 
Journal of theoretical biology 344 (2014): 49–55. doi:10.1016/j.jtbi.2013.11.019
info:cnr-pdr/source/autori:Campenni, Marco; Schino, Gabriele/titolo:Partner choice promotes cooperation: The two faces of testing with agent-based models/doi:10.1016/j.jtbi.2013.11.019/rivista:Journal of theoretical biology/anno:2014/pagina_da:49/pagina_a
Date: 
2014
Resource Identifier: 
http://www.cnr.it/prodotto/i/312037
https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jtbi.2013.11.019
info:doi:10.1016/j.jtbi.2013.11.019
ISTC Author: 
Gabriele Schino's picture
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