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

Journal of Theoretical Biology
Matthew H ChanPeter S Kim

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. (2014) 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. (2014), 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.

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Citations

Mar 27, 2018·American Journal of Physical Anthropology·Kristen HawkesNicholas Blurton Jones
May 10, 2020·Integrative and Comparative Biology·Kristen Hawkes
Jul 15, 2017·Bulletin of Mathematical Biology·Matthew H ChanPeter S Kim
Dec 6, 2019·Human Nature : an Interdisciplinary Biosocial Perspective·Brooke A Scelza, Katie Hinde
Jun 2, 2020·Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological Sciences·Kristen Hawkes
May 19, 2017·Ecology and Evolution·Jared M Field, Michael B Bonsall
Oct 20, 2018·Journal of Theoretical Biology·Peter S KimKristen Hawkes
May 27, 2020·Journal of Human Evolution·Martin N MullerAnne E Pusey
Aug 25, 2021·History and Philosophy of the Life Sciences·Aja Watkins
Sep 30, 2020·Mathematical Biosciences and Engineering : MBE·Dana PaquinPeter Kim

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