Abstract
The application of game theory in biology is soon entering its sixth decade [ 1. Maynard Smith J. Price G.R. The logic of animal conflict. Nature. 1973; 246: 15-18 Crossref Scopus (3884) Google Scholar ]. Recent mentions in TREE alone testify its impact on studies of fitness landscapes [ 2. Laughlin D.C. et al. The net effect of functional traits on fitness. Trends Ecol. Evol. 2020; 35: 1037-1047 Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (49) Google Scholar ], evolution of numerical competence [ 3. Nieder A. The adaptive value of numerical competence. Trends Ecol. Evol. 2020; 35: 605-617 Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (41) Google Scholar ], or ambiguous stimuli in predator–prey interactions [ 4. Leavell B.C. Bernal X.E. The cognitive ecology of stimulus ambiguity: a predator-prey perspective. Trends Ecol. Evol. 2019; 34: 1048-1060 Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (19) Google Scholar ], just to mention a few. Despite its versatility, it appears that not all evolutionary biologists – not even all modellers – are much influenced by game theoretic thinking. I remember a somewhat bemused feeling when reading about the excitement when genetically oriented researchers discovered ways to model the effect of conspecific behaviour on selection impacting a focal gene (indirect genetic effects; IGEs [ 5. Wolf J.B. et al. Evolutionary consequences of indirect genetic effects. Trends Ecol. Evol. 1998; 13: 64-69 Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (604) Google Scholar , 6. Bijma P. et al. The joint effects of kin, multilevel selection and indirect genetic effects on response to genetic selection. J. Evol. Biol. 2008; 21: 1175-1188 Crossref PubMed Scopus (164) Google Scholar ]). The dependence of fitness on others’ actions had, after all, been imported into biology decades earlier, in the form of game theory.
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