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5 - Evolutionary Processes Shaping Learning Ability in Insects

from Part I - Evolution of Learning Processes

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  26 May 2022

By
Maartje Liefting
Edited by
Mark A. Krause ,
Karen L. Hollis  and
Mauricio R. Papini
Mark A. Krause
Affiliation:
Southern Oregon University
Karen L. Hollis
Affiliation:
Mount Holyoke College, Massachusetts
Mauricio R. Papini
Affiliation:
Texas Christian University
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Summary

Insects demonstrate an impressive repertoire of learned behaviors and are specifically suitable for studies on evolutionary processes because of their high fecundity and short life span. In this chapter I focus on the evolutionary processes that shape learning ability in insects on the relatively short-term evolutionary scale. For cognitive traits and behavior to evolve under direct natural selection the following requirements must be met: (1) variation in cognitive ability between individuals, (2) this variation is heritable, and (3) this variation is related to fitness (reproduction or survival) in specific environments. First, I describe natural variation in learning ability and how this variation can be maintained in natural populations. Second, I discuss work on heritability of cognition, as well as related studies on artificial selection and experimental evolution. Finally, I discuss the benefits and costs of learning in relation to fitness.

Keywords

natural variationindividual differencesmaintaining variationphenotypic plasticityheritabilityartificial selectionexperimental evolutioncost-benefit trade-offs.
Type
Chapter
Information
Evolution of Learning and Memory Mechanisms , pp. 89 - 104
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2022

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