Recent studies have revealed a variety of leftright asymmetries among vertebrates and invertebrates. In many species, left and rightlateralized individuals coexist, but in unequal numbers (“populationlevel” lateralization). It has been argued that brain lateralization increases individual efficiency (e.g., avoiding unnecessary duplication of neural circuitry and reducing interference between functions), thus counteracting the ecological disadvantages of lateral biases in behaviour (making individual behaviour more predictable to other organisms). However, individual efficiency does not require a definite proportion of left and rightlateralized individuals. Thus such arguments do not explain populationlevel lateralization. We have previously shown that, in the context of prepredator interactions, populationlevel lateralization can arise as an evolutionarily stable strategy when individually asymmetrical organisms must coordinate their behaviour with that of other asymmetrical organisms. Here, we extend our model showing that populations consisting of left and rightlateralized individuals in unequal numbers can be evolutionary stable, based solely on strategic factors arising from the balance between antagonistic (competitive) and synergistic (cooperative) interactions.
Ghirlanda S, Frasnelli E, Vallortigara G (2009). Intraspecific competition and coordination in the evolution of lateralization. PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS - ROYAL SOCIETY. BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES, 364, 861-866 [10.1098/rstb.2008.0227].
Intraspecific competition and coordination in the evolution of lateralization
GHIRLANDA, STEFANO;
2009
Abstract
Recent studies have revealed a variety of leftright asymmetries among vertebrates and invertebrates. In many species, left and rightlateralized individuals coexist, but in unequal numbers (“populationlevel” lateralization). It has been argued that brain lateralization increases individual efficiency (e.g., avoiding unnecessary duplication of neural circuitry and reducing interference between functions), thus counteracting the ecological disadvantages of lateral biases in behaviour (making individual behaviour more predictable to other organisms). However, individual efficiency does not require a definite proportion of left and rightlateralized individuals. Thus such arguments do not explain populationlevel lateralization. We have previously shown that, in the context of prepredator interactions, populationlevel lateralization can arise as an evolutionarily stable strategy when individually asymmetrical organisms must coordinate their behaviour with that of other asymmetrical organisms. Here, we extend our model showing that populations consisting of left and rightlateralized individuals in unequal numbers can be evolutionary stable, based solely on strategic factors arising from the balance between antagonistic (competitive) and synergistic (cooperative) interactions.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.