How colonial animals evolve
Carl Simpson, Amalia Herrera-Cubilla, Jeremy B. C. Jackson
Abstract
, grown and bred in a common garden experiment. We find quantitatively distinct differences in the evolutionary potential of modular and colony traits. Contrary to solitary organisms, individual traits are not heritable from mother to daughter modules, but colony traits are strongly heritable from parent to offspring colonies. Colony-level evolution therefore dominates because no evolutionary change can accumulate among its modules.
Topics & Concepts
OrganismColonialismLimitingSelection (genetic algorithm)BiologyEvolutionary biologyZoologyEcologyComputer scienceHistoryArtificial intelligenceGeneticsEngineeringArchaeologyMechanical engineeringAnimal Behavior and ReproductionPlant and animal studiesInsect and Arachnid Ecology and Behavior