Presentation videos

Ronald Noë

Departement of Ecology, University of Strasbourg
Strasbourg, France
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Biological market (BM) theory aims to explain the evolution and maintenance of cooperation. BM is a �partner choice� model, because the choice among different potential partners is assumed to be the pivotal mechanism governing cooperative interactions. Partner choice and the (threat of) partner switching have a controlling effect on the behaviour of current partners, as in partner control models, but also lead to outbidding competition between potential partners. On an evolutionary time scale partner choice can lead to selection for specific traits that benefit the choosing party, much like female choice selects for male traits favourable to females under sexual selection. On short time scales outbidding competition drives an adaptation of the exchange rates of goods and services to fluctuations in supply and demand of such commodities. Several empirical examples of both phenomena have been published till date in systems ranging from nutrient exchange mutualisms between plants and bacteria or fungi, protection mutualisms between ants and other insects or plants, helper systems in mongoose, grooming exchanges in primates, mating markets in birds and humans and so forth. This wide empirical support stands in sharp contrast to other popular theories of cooperation, most of which belong to the �partner control� family of models. After this first wave of empirical studies that were inspired by the biological market paradigm to look at known phenomena in a new way, the time is ripe for a number of further developments, such as (1) the development of both more general models of the adaptation of exchange rates to fluctuating market situations and more specific models that are tailored to particular forms of cooperation. (2) Attention to the proximate mechanisms involved in tracking fluctuations in supply and demand. (3) Negotiation tactics and the problem of honest communication, notably in organisms that use cognitive mechanisms.