The interactive selection of mass
Large multicellular animals are naturally selected by the intra-specific and density dependent interactive competition
When the maximum resource bias evolves to unity [ ψι* = 1 ], the mass of the self-replicating cell is selected to the limit where the metabolic pathways are fully developed and the dependence of mass specific metabolism on mass is vanishing [ ββ• → 0 ]. Any further increase in mass is then in the hands of selection by density dependent interactive competition.
The selection gradient on mass is then
∂ r / ∂ ln wi|wi=w = ψ ι* – 1
with the level of interference at the population dynamic equilibrium
ι* = f [ n*( r ∝ – ln w ) ]
generating a fully developed population dynamic feed-back, where the interactive selection on mass is dependent upon the average mass in the population. The feed-back selection occurs because the selection of extra mass is dependent on a resource bias above unity [ ψ ι* > 1 ], and this occurs only when the level of interference competition is larger than ι* > 1/ψ; a level that is dependent on a sufficiently large equilibrium abundance [ ι* = f ( n* ) ], that is dependent on a sufficiently large population dynamic growth rate [ n*(r) ], that is dependent on a sufficiently small body mass [ r ∝ – ln w ].
As illustrated in Fig. 1., for organisms with stable net energy, the result is a body mass that is selected as an energetic buffer that is adjusting the resource bias in the population [ (wi/w)ψι ] to an equilibrium attractor with an exponent of unity
ψ ι** = 1
The associated body masses are selected beyond the minimum that is required for the metabolism of the cell, and there is therefore no longer selection for a single-celled individual. Multicellularity may thus evolve from the increased functionality that can be obtained from the division of a single large cell into a multitude of smaller cooperating cells.
It is possible to visualize the mass attractor of population dynamic feed-back selection by including the population dynamic feed-back of the density dependent interference competition into the equations. This is done in Fig. 2, that compares the fitness profiles (landscapes), selection gradients and selection integrals across three populations that differ in the average net energy per individual.
Download publications
The natural selection of metabolism and mass selects lifeforms from viruses to multicellular animals
Inevitable evolution: back to
Major life-history transitions by deterministic directional natural selection
Evolutionary dynamics of exploited populations selected by density dependent competitive interactions
A general theory of evolution. By means of selection by density dependent competitive interactions.
References
- Witting, L. 2017. The natural selection of metabolism and mass selects lifeforms from viruses to multicellular animals. Ecology and Evolution 7:9098--9118, https://dx.doi.org/10.1002/ece3.3432.