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Three conditions for the evolution of eusociality: Are they sufficient?

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Summary

I hypothesize that three conditions, (1) food-shelter coincidence, (2) strong selection for defense, and (3) ability to defend, are sufficient, although not necessary, for the evolution of eusociality in group-living animals. Reasons for this association between ecology and eusociality include extremely high value of the habitat, possibilities for habitat inheritance, high relatedness in claustral situations, self-sufficiency of juveniles, greater ability of workers to reproduce, and trade-offs between defensive ability and dispersal.

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  1. Behavioural Ecology Research Group, Department of Biosciences, Simon Fraser University, V5A 1S6, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada

    B. J. Crespi

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Crespi, B.J. Three conditions for the evolution of eusociality: Are they sufficient?. Ins. Soc 41, 395–400 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01240642

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