Individuals of a small passerine bird, Vireo portusseptemtrionis, can raise offspring cooperatively with a partner or they can do so independently. They randomly pair-bond with a random partner and have to decide which strategy to pursue. Independents raise one offspring no matter who their partner is. Cooperators with a good partner raise 3 offspring, but cooperators with a bad partner are unsuccessful and raise no offspring. Assume that 1/3 of partners are good and 2/3 are bad.
What is the mean fitness of cooperators in terms of number of offspring?
What is the mean fitness of independents in terms of number of offspring?
now assume that an Assessor strategy arises that can perfectly assess whether partners are good or bad. What is its mean fitness in terms of number of offspring
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Answer:
Individuals of a small passerine bird, Vireo portusseptemtrionis, can raise offspring cooperatively with a partner or they can do so independently. They randomly pair-bond with a random partner and have to decide which strategy to pursue. Independents raise one offspring no matter who their partner is. Cooperators with a good partner raise 3 offspring, but cooperators with a bad partner are unsuccessful and raise no offspring. Assume that 1/3 of partners are good and 2/3 are bad.
What is the mean fitness of cooperators in terms of number of offspring?
What is the mean fitness of independents in terms of number of offspring?
now assume that an Assessor strategy arises that can perfectly assess whether partners are good or bad. What is its mean fitness in terms of number of offspring