Presentation Details
| Incidental cooperation and social environment drive diverse male life histories Antonio M.M.Rodrigues1, Rebecca M.Kilner2, Stephen C.Stearns3. 1Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA.2University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK, United Kingdom.3Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA |
Abstract
Understanding individual variation in life-history traits remains a central puzzle in evolutionary ecology. Classical models predict negative correlations between such traits, yet empirical studies increasingly show positive correlations and other unexpected patterns. We present a theoretical model showing that male-male interactions during fertilisation events generate incidental cooperation: investment in reproductive effort benefits rivals by boosting female fertility, altering life-history trade-offs and potentially producing positive correlations between traits across individuals. Males also reduce reproductive effort in socially adverse environments. Additionally, we show that dispersal mode and rival relatedness further modulate these dynamics. Our model can explain unusual life-history patterns observed across species, suggesting that integrating behavioral ecology into life-history theory provides a fruitful framework for understanding within-population diversity.
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