In a group of meerkats, a male gives a number of alarm calls that in total save the lives of two sisters as well as three offspring of another sibling. But by giving these alarm calls, the male is exposed to risk of attack from predators and eventually is killed by a hawk. As a result of a shortened life, he does not produce three surviving offspring that he otherwise would have had. What was the inclusive fitness of this individual?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Inclusive fitness includes an individual's own reproductive success plus the effects the individual has on the reproductive success of related individuals. Here, the male meerkat saves two sisters and three offspring of another sibling. Assuming a genetic relatedness of 0.5 for siblings and 0.25 for nieces/nephews, the calculation would be: (2 * 0.5) + (3 * 0.25) = 1 + 0.75 = 1.75. The loss of potential offspring does not directly subtract from his inclusive fitness, as inclusive fitness accounts for the genes passed on through relatives, not just direct offspring.

In a Group of Meerkats, a Male Gives a Number