Multilevel Selection

Multilevel selection describes the interaction of multiple evolutionary processes on different scales. It has been proposed by David Sloan Wilson and Edward O. Wilson (*). The environment of an organism in the real world is complex: one can distinguish between the level of the genes, cells, individuals or organisms, groups, species, populations and societies. The fitness of an individual is a result of the particular fitness to survive and interact on all these levels.

The concept of natural selection can be meaningful applied to different levels:

• Level of the gene: selection between genes within an individual
• Level of the group: selection between individuals within a group
• Level of the population: selection between groups within a population

For an evolutionary process we need an inheritable trait and a carrier in form of a code. Otherwise it makes no sense to speak of selection. If selection acts on groups, then they must be suitable 'vehicles' for selection. They must be able to pass their traits, habits, behavior - in form of memes, for instance through learning. New group members have to learn the group behavior in the process of group socialization.

Links

• American Scientist articles from David Sloan Wilson and Edward O. Wilson (*) Evolution for the "Good of the Group"