title: Towards a richer evolutionary game theory.
abstract: Most examples of the application of evolutionary game theory to problems in biology involve highly simplified models. I contend that it is time to move on and include much more richness in models. In particular, more thought needs to be given to the importance of (i) between-individual variation; (ii) the interaction between individuals, and hence the process by which decisions are reached; (iii) the ecological and life-history context of the situation; (iv) the traits that are under selection, and (v) the underlying psychological mechanisms that lead to behaviour. I give examples where including variation between individuals fundamentally changes predicted outcomes of a game. Variation also selects for real-time responses, again resulting in changed outcomes. Variation can select for other traits, such as choosiness and social sensitivity. More generally, many problems involve coevolution of more than one trait. I identify situations where a reductionist approach, in which a game is isolated from is ecological setting, can be misleading. I also highlight the need to consider flexibility of behaviour, mental states and other issues concerned with the evolution of mechanism.
authors: School of Mathematics, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TW, UK. john.mcnamara@bristol.ac.uk
authors: John M
authors: JM
authors: McNamara
mesh_terms: D005075:Biological Evolution; D005716:Game Theory; D008954:Models, Biological
keywords: decision process; flexibility; mechanism; strategy; variation
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