The male reed buntings in Dixon et al.’s study (Figure) seem to be consciously aware of ge...

The male reed buntings in Dixon et al.’s study (Figure) seem to be consciously aware of genetic relationships and “trying” to increase their reproductive success. Can evolution cause reed buntings (and other animals) to behave as if they are aware of the evolutionary consequences of their actions, without actually being aware of them? Does your answer also apply to humans?

Figure Male reed buntings adjust parental effort (a) Each dot represents a male who raised two broods. The x-axis plots the difference between the two broods in the percentage of extrapair paternity (% EPP), or fraction of chicks sired by another male. The y-axis plots the difference in how frequently the male fed chicks in the first versus second brood. Most males fed chicks more often in the nest where they had sired a higher fraction (p = 0.0064). (b) Each dot represents a female who raised two broods. Females showed no relationship between parenting effort and the relative number of chicks sired by extrapair males. Redrawn from Dixon et al. (1994).