The evolution of cooperation and the production of public goods in the context of predator inspection in the Trinidadian guppy

Understanding the evolution and maintenance of cooperation in natural systems is one of the longest standing challenges in biology. A majority of animal species live in dynamic social groupings where individuals regularly interact and cooperate with non-kin; presenting us with an evolutionary conundrum. A number of theories have been put forward for how cooperation has come about in such systems and how it can persist. This has created tremendous scope, and need, for empirical tests of the assumptions and predictions put forward by such theories and modelling of cooperative decisions made against a back-ground of real-world patterns of social contact. The overall aim of the project is to test assumptions and predictions put forward by current theoretical models investigating the evolution and persistence of cooperation in the natural world. In particular questions around the co-evolution of cooperative investment and social traits will be addressed, but there is plenty of scope for project development by the student. The project will apply both empirical and theoretical approaches using Trinidadian guppies (Poecilia reticulata) as a model system. In this system individuals cooperate during predator inspection and have been demonstrated to vary phenotypically in their cooperativeness.

The project will be able to take advantage of a unique assemblage of guppy populations and their most common fish predators maintained by University of Exeter supervisor Safi Darden and University of Bristol supervisor Christos Ioannou. Supervisors Darden and Ioannou bring expertise in working with each of the systems and within the core research areas. In addition, expertise in evolutionary modelling and fish physiology will be brought to the project by co-supervisors Tim Fawcett and Shaun Killen, respectively.