Competition has been a vital force in the evolution of life on Earth, but it has not acted alone. Cooperation, too, has played an essential part. So argues mathematical biologist Martin Nowak of Harvard University in the cover story of the July 2012 issue of Scientific American. The slide show below pictures some of the many creatures known to assist those in need.

» View the slide show

5 Comments

1. 1. promytius 02:01 PM 6/19/12

   "co-operate" - I think that is a Human trait, and an irrelevant human overlay to otherwise explainable behavior - but nice pictures anyway.

   Reply | Report Abuse | Link to this

2. 2. Bill_Crofut 05:53 PM 6/20/12

   Re "Some workers have questioned the existence of strict altruism. Wilson (1978), for instance, questions the altruism of Mother Teresa - this because of her belief in the possibility of saving the soul to eternal life through good deeds (pp. 164-165). If human behaviour is viewed from the perspective of natural selection, the effect that counts is survival and reproduction. Reward in heaven and brotherhood of class, race or creed are not real reciprocity or kin selection, but just illusions; illusions that make people commit altruistic acts."
   [Birgitta S. Tullberg and Jan Tullberg, http://www.tullberg.org/Papers/BJ-96-O-75.pdf]
   
   What is the evolutionary explanation of altruism in non-humans?

   Reply | Report Abuse | Link to this

3. 3. BuckSkinMan 12:21 AM 6/21/12

   The best altruism is that which is based on: I do you a solid, you do me a solid. It's just one of the things believers in individualism forget (and eventually regret).

   Reply | Report Abuse | Link to this

4. 4. Massingale 06:40 AM 6/21/12

   Well, I am not sure what all is said, but I just like the story, and the monkeys are cool in my book.
   I guess some may need to kind of let go of being so....oh...smart, and just have some fun, just like the apes are doing. Climb a tree and scream at the world, so smart and as of yet...well...let not go there...
   We love the story it cool and I am off to have some fun...

   Reply | Report Abuse | Link to this

5. 5. Ramil 12:46 PM 6/22/12

   I think it's rather sad that the only reason any of these activities seem noteworthy is that there is an underlying assumption that all non-human species are solitary savages incapable of cooperation, even when it is obviously beneficial. Male lions cooperate in moving prey animals toward waiting females hiding the the grass; many species cooperate in hunting and in defending the group; cats will nurse kittens from other mothers; and most colonial animals, like prairie dogs, have a variety of alarm calls, specific to each type of danger. So how come this is suddenly big news, except possibly to those recently awakened from a coma?

   Reply | Report Abuse | Link to this