@article{tully_evolution_2011,
Author = {Tully, Thomas and Lambert, Amaury},
Title = {The evolution of post-reproductive lifespan as an
insurance against developmental indeterminacy},
Journal = {Evolution},
Volume = {65},
Number = {10},
Pages = {3013--3020},
abstract = {Postreproductive life span remains a puzzle for
evolutionary biologists. The explanation of increased
inclusive fitness through parental care after
reproduction that applies for humans is unrealistic for
many species. We propose a new selective mechanism,
independent of parental care, which relies on the
hypothesis that postreproductive life span can evolve
as an insurance against indeterminacy: longer life
expectancy reduces the risk of dying by chance before
the cessation of reproductive activity. We demonstrate
numerically that the duration of evolved
postreproductive life span is indeed expected to
increase with variability in life span duration. An
unprecedented assay of 11 strains of the collembola
Folsomia candida shows the existence of (1)
postreproductive life span in the absence of parental
care; (2) genetic variability in mean postreproductive
life span and postreproductive life span variability
itself; (3) strong genetic correlation between latter
traits. This new explanation brings along the novel
idea that loose canalization of a trait (here, somatic
life span) can itself act as a selective pressure on
other traits.},
doi = {10.1111/j.1558-5646.2011.01347.x},
year = 2011
}