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Behavioural evolution (Communication arising)

Does similarity breed cooperation?

Nature volume 418, pages 499–500 (2002)Cite this article

Abstract

Reciprocity1, whether direct2 or indirect3, is thought to be the key to establishing cooperation among non-relatives. But Riolo et al.4 have presented a model in which cooperation is instead based on similarity: agents donate only when their partner's 'tag' lies within a 'tolerance' range around their own. Here we point out that their model requires individuals with identical tags to cooperate with each other, and show that cooperation tends to collapse when individuals bearing identical tags are given the option of not donating. We therefore question their mechanism for maintaining cooperation without reciprocity.

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Figure 1: Population dynamics for the first 500 generations of a typical run of Riolo and colleagues' model4, in which individuals with identical tags must donate (blue), and our modified model in which individuals with identical tags may or may not donate (red).

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Author notes

  1. Thomas N. Sherratt

    Present address: Department of Biology, Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario, K1S 5B6, Canada

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Evolution and Behaviour Research Group, School of Biological Sciences, Henry Wellcome Building for Neuroecology, University of Newcastle upon Tyne, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE2 4HH, UK

    Gilbert Roberts

  2. School of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, University of Durham, South Road, Durham, DH1 3LE, UK

    Thomas N. Sherratt

Authors
  1. Gilbert Roberts
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  2. Thomas N. Sherratt
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Correspondence to Gilbert Roberts.

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Roberts, G., Sherratt, T. Does similarity breed cooperation?. Nature 418, 499–500 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1038/418499b

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