The Role of Collective Reproduction in Evolution

To look for an answer to the puzzle of why complexity may increase, this paper looks to the major evolutionary transitions – a recurring pattern where individuals give up their rights to reproduce individually and instead reproduce as part of a super-organism. A simple model of collective reproduction is presented and discussed in light of this topic. The model finds that collective reproduction is actually to the benefit of the individual, not to the group. The cost of reproduction is shown to be an important factor and different scenarios are presented which show individual, sexual reproduction and collective reproduction (with larger numbers of parents) as optimal.