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Suppose you are a graduate student working on field research in the Serengeti National
Park, Tanzania, studying a newly discovered apparently altruistic behavior seen in female
African lions. It has been observed that female lions sometimes leave their pride group, on
their own, to patrol their pride’s territory. If a neighbor lion from another pride is found,
they will alert their pride-mates by roaring. Given what is currently known about lions and
the basis of their social behavior, answer the following questions:
3A. (6 points) What is the definition of altruism and why does this behavior fit this definition? Be
specific, including information on what you learned about lions in class. (2-4 sentences)
3B. (4 points) Kin selection is one hypothesis for the evolution of altruistic behavior. Applying Hamilton’s
Rule, determine when this patrolling behavior would be advantageous, if the benefit (b) = 1.3 and the
cost (c) = 0.39. Show a simple calculation and provide a short explanation.
3C. (4 points) Does your answer for 3B suggest that kin selection could explain this behavior in lions?
Explain. Consider what you know of the structure and biology of a lion pride from class material. (3-4
sentences)
3D. (8 points) Reciprocal altruism is another explanation for the evolution of altruism. What is reciprocal
altruism and could this apply in this case for lions? Apply what you’ve learned in class about reciprocal
altruism and lion behavior, and again use the values benefit (b) = 1.3 and cost (c) = 0.39. Consider the
general context needed for reciprocal altruism to function and apply this to a lion pride. The GameBug
simulator (https://nbb.emory.edu/wyttenbach/gamebug/gbgmanual.html) we used in class may be helpful here but is not
required. (4-8 sentences)
3E. (8 points) Group selection is yet another explanation for the evolution of altruism. What is group
selection and could this apply in this case for lions? Apply what you’ve learned in class about group
selection and lion behavior, and again use the values benefit (b) = 1.3 and cost (c) = 0.39. Consider the
general context needed for group selection to function and apply this to a lion pride. The GameBug
simulator we used in class may be helpful here but is not required. (4-8 sentences)
