Evolution of longevity, age at last birth and sexual conflict with grandmothering

DOI10.1016/J.JTBI.2015.12.014zbMATH Open1343.92395arXiv1906.12047OpenAlexW2274583219WikidataQ47342221 ScholiaQ47342221MaRDI QIDQ305960FDOQ305960

Matthew H. Chan, Peter S. Kim, Kristen Hawkes

Publication date: 31 August 2016

Published in: Journal of Theoretical Biology (Search for Journal in Brave)

Abstract: We use a two-sex partial differential equation (PDE) model based on the Grandmother Hypothesis. We build on an earlier model by Kim et al. [27] by allowing for evolution in both longevity and age at last birth, and also assuming that post-fertile females support only their daughters' fertility. Similarly to Kim et al. [27], we find that only two locally stable equilibria exist: one corresponding to great ape-like longevities and the other corresponding to hunter-gatherer longevities. Our results show that grandmothering enables the transition between these two equilibria, without extending the end of fertility. Moreover, sensitivity analyses of the model show that male competition, arising from a skew in the mating sex ratio towards males, plays a significant role in determining whether the transition from great ape-like longevities to higher longevities is possible and the equilibrium value of the average adult lifespan. Whereas grandmothering effects have a significant impact on the equilibrium value of the average age at last birth and enable the transition to higher longevities, they have an insignificant impact on the equilibrium value of the average adult lifespan.

Full work available at URL: https://arxiv.org/abs/1906.12047

zbMATH Keywords

evolutionary dynamicspopulation dynamicsgrandmother hypothesispostmenopausal longevity

Mathematics Subject Classification ID

Population dynamics (general) (92D25) Animal behavior (92D50)

Cites Work

• Effect of maternal and grandmaternal care on population dynamics and human life-history evolution: a matrix projection model
• Grandmothering drives the evolution of longevity in a probabilistic model

Cited In (7)

• Strategies for reproduction and ageing
• A mathematical model for the effects of grandmothering on human longevity
• Male mating choices: the drive behind menopause?
• Emergence and maintenance of menopause in humans: a game theory model
• Gender Convergence in Human Survival and the Postponement of Death
• Modelling the evolution of traits in a two-sex population, with an application to grandmothering
• Why does Women's fertility end in mid-life? Grandmothering and age at last birth

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