Question

1. Kin selection was used to explain the evolution of eusociality. Now we know that in some eusocial species, including honeybees, queens mate multiple times, i.e., polyandry. How might polyandry weaken the kin selection explanation for the evolution of eusociality?

Answer 1

Eusociality have following characteristics :-

1.Cooperative brood care (care of offspring from other individuals)

2.Overlapping generations within a colony of adults

3.Division of labor into reproductive and non-reproductive groups

Kin selection - It is look like altruistic behaviour in which animal engages in self sacrificial behaviour that provide benefits the genetic fitness of their relatives.

In Eusociality also individuals of at least one cast lose the ability to perform at least one behaviour.

In Polyandry one women is married to several men.When breeding with a relative,such costs may be lessened by indirect fitness through kin selection,while benefits from mutualistic behaviour,such as communal defence,may increase.So this can weak the altruistic behaviour or self sacrificial behaviour means weaken the kin selection.