Evolution in a randomly changing environment

Evolution in a randomly changing environment

Cooperation between individuals is beneficial for the population as a whole, but not for those who sacrifice their resources and energy to the common good. Despite this disadvantage, cooperators could survive, for example if their competitors, by chance, go extinct. In nature, this competition plays out in unpredictable conditions.

In this talk, I will show how this environmental randomness intertwines with the population's own, leveling the playing field in the competition. As a result, the survival chance of cooperating individuals is much improved.

Karl Wienand (University of Munich (LMU))