A1 Journal article (refereed)
Fitness as the organismal performance measure guiding adaptive evolution (2024)

Fromhage, L., Jennions, M. D., Myllymaa, L., & Henshaw, J. M. (2024). Fitness as the organismal performance measure guiding adaptive evolution. Evolution, 78(6), 1039 - 1053. https://doi.org/10.1093/evolut/qpae043

JYU authors or editors

Publication details

All authors or editors: Fromhage, Lutz; Jennions, Michael D.; Myllymaa, Lauri; Henshaw, Jonathan M.

Journal or series: Evolution

ISSN: 0014-3820

eISSN: 1558-5646

Publication year: 2024

Publication date: 13/03/2024

Volume: 78

Issue number: 6

Pages range: 1039 - 1053

Publisher: Oxford University Press (OUP)

Publication country: United Kingdom

Publication language: English

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/evolut/qpae043

Publication open access: Openly available

Publication channel open access: Partially open access channel

Publication is parallel published (JYX): https://jyx.jyu.fi/handle/123456789/94014

Abstract

A long-standing problem in evolutionary theory is to clarify in what sense (if any) natural selection cumulatively improves the design of organisms. Various concepts, such as fitness and inclusive fitness, have been proposed to resolve this problem. In addition, there have been attempts to replace the original problem with more tractable questions such as whether a given gene or trait is favoured by selection. Here we ask what theoretical properties the concept fitness should possess to encapsulate the improvement criterion required to talk meaningfully about adaptive evolution. We argue that natural selection tends to shape phenotypes based on the causal properties of individuals, and that this tendency is therefore best captured by a fitness concept that focusses on these properties. We highlight a fitness concept which meets this role under broad conditions, but requires adjustments in our conceptual understanding of adaptive evolution. These adjustments combine elements of Dawkinsian gene selectionism and Egbert Leigh’s “parliament of genes”.

Keywords: causality; natural selection; evolution; kin selection

Free keywords: natural selection; adaptation; social evolution; inclusive fitness; kin selection; causality

Contributing organizations

Related projects

Ministry reporting: Yes

VIRTA submission year: 2024

Preliminary JUFO rating: 3