Xiaochun Wang

Project: Quantifying the lifetime inclusive fitness effects of cooperative breeding in Seychelles warblers

In cooperative breeding systems, helpers often sacrifice their own reproductive opportunities and incur energetic costs to care for the offspring of others. The key to understand the evolutionary mechanism of this altruistic behavior lies in accurately quantifying the fitness benefits it provides. However, current research lacks quantitative data on lifetime inclusive fitness, and often overlooks the influence of social behaviors in fitness calculations. In this project, Xiaochun will quantify the lifetime inclusive fitness benefits of different life history strategies using the unique model of the Seychelles warbler, providing a quantitative fitness basis for the evolution of helping behavior in cooperative breeding.