Which term refers to how an animal's inclusive fitness is increased by indirect fitness?

Which term refers to how an animal's inclusive fitness is increased by indirect fitness?

• A. Kin selection
• B. Mutualism
• C. Direct fitness
• D. Group selection

Answer: (A)

Kin selection is the idea that an animal can boost its inclusive fitness by helping relatives who share many of its genes, so indirect fitness plays a key role in genetic success. Inclusive fitness equals direct fitness (personal reproduction) plus indirect fitness (reproductive success of relatives gained through the actor’s helping, due to shared genes). When an individual performs altruistic acts toward relatives, it raises the relatives’ survival or reproduction, thereby increasing the actor’s genetic representation in future generations. For example, helping a close kin may pay off genetically even if the helper’s own direct reproduction is reduced, because the relatives carry a large portion of the same genes. This is distinct from mutualism, which involves beneficial interactions with non-relatives of other species; direct fitness refers to personal offspring production; and group selection describes evolution acting on groups rather than through relatedness-based social interactions.

Kin selection is the idea that an animal can boost its inclusive fitness by helping relatives who share many of its genes, so indirect fitness plays a key role in genetic success. Inclusive fitness equals direct fitness (personal reproduction) plus indirect fitness (reproductive success of relatives gained through the actor’s helping, due to shared genes). When an individual performs altruistic acts toward relatives, it raises the relatives’ survival or reproduction, thereby increasing the actor’s genetic representation in future generations. For example, helping a close kin may pay off genetically even if the helper’s own direct reproduction is reduced, because the relatives carry a large portion of the same genes. This is distinct from mutualism, which involves beneficial interactions with non-relatives of other species; direct fitness refers to personal offspring production; and group selection describes evolution acting on groups rather than through relatedness-based social interactions.