We model natural selection for or against an anti-parasite (or anti-predator) defense allele in a host (or prey) population that is structured into many demes. The defense behavior has a fitness cost for the actor compared to non defenders ("cheaters") in the same deme and locally reduces parasite growth rates. Hutzenthaler et al. (2022) have analytically derived a criterion for fixation or extinction of defenders in the limit of large populations, many demes, weak selection and slow migration. Here, we use both individual-based and diffusion-based simulation approaches to analyze related models. We find that the criterion still leads to accurate predictions for settings with finitely many demes and with various migration patterns. A key mechanism of providing a benefit of the defense trait is genetic drift due to randomness of reproduction and death events leading to between-deme differences in defense allele frequencies and host population sizes. We discuss an inclusive-fitness interpretation of this mechanism and present in-silico evidence that under these conditions a defense trait can be altruistic and still spread in a structured population.

Felix Jordan

Martin Hutzenthaler

Dirk Metzler

Theoretical Population Biology

跨学科期刊《理论种群生物学》发表了关于种群生物学理论方面的文章，特别是在人口学、生态学、流行病学、进化和遗传学领域。重点是发展数学理论和模型，以增强对生物现象的理解。文章强调了这项工作对于推进生物学进步的动机和意义，依靠大量的数学努力来获得生物学洞察力。该杂志还介绍了直接影响人口生物学理论问题的经验结果以及计算和统计方法。

Theoretical Population Biology is an interdisciplinary journal that publishes articles on the theory of population biology, particularly in the fields of demography, ecology, epidemiology, evolution, and genetics. The focus is on developing mathematical theories and models to enhance the understanding of biological phenomena. The articles emphasize the motivation and significance of this work in advancing biological knowledge, relying on substantial mathematical efforts to gain biological insights. The journal also presents empirical results that directly impact theoretical issues in population biology, along with computational and statistical methods.

《理论种群生物学》是一本跨学科的期刊，专注于种群生物学理论的研究，尤其在人口学、生态学、流行病学、进化和遗传学等领域。期刊强调发展数学理论和模型，以加深对生物现象的理解。文章不仅探讨了推动生物学进步的动机和意义，还依赖大量的数学工作来获得生物学的洞察。此外，期刊还介绍了直接影响种群生物学理论问题的实证结果以及相关的计算和统计方法。

Category	Quartile
生物学	4
生物学, 生态学	4
生物学, 进化生物学	4
生物学, 遗传学	4
生物学, 数学与计算生物学	4

Selection for altruistic defense in structured populations

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Journal Info

Category	Quartile
MATHEMATICAL & COMPUTATIONAL BIOLOGY	4