ALTRUISTIC AGING: THE EVOLUTIONARY DYNAMICS BALANCING LONGEVITY AND EVOLVABILITY

Authored by Minette Herrera, Aaron Miller, Joel Nishimura

Date Published: 2017

DOI: 10.3934/mbe.2017028

Sponsors: No sponsors listed

Platforms: No platforms listed

Model Documentation: Other Narrative

Model Code URLs: Model code not found

Abstract

Altruism is typically associated with traits or behaviors that benefit the population as a whole, but are costly to the individual. We propose that, when the environment is rapidly changing, senescence (age-related deterioration) can be altruistic. According to numerical simulations of an agent-based model, while long-lived individuals can outcompete their short lived peers, populations composed of long-lived individuals are more likely to go extinct during periods of rapid environmental change. Moreover, as in many situations where other cooperative behavior arises, senescence can be stabilized in a structured population.

Tags

Agent-based modeling Evolution Cooperation Model Senescence Structured populations