Q43 - Direct and Inclusive Fitness in a Haplodiploid Hymenopteran Insect

Theoretical 2 Real exam question - full text reproduced under IBO's CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 license

The table below presents data on the reproductive success of four different genotypes, A to D, in a Hymenopteran insect (haplodiploid sex determination: males are haploid from unfertilized eggs, females are diploid). If a female mates with only one male, any two of her daughters share, on average, 3/4 of their genes. Genotype A: 12 own offspring, 3 siblings, 7 offspring produced by each sibling. Genotype B: 2 own offspring, 8 siblings, 12 offspring produced by each sibling. Genotype C: 8 own offspring, 4 siblings, 6 offspring produced by each sibling. Genotype D: 9 own offspring, 6 siblings, 5 offspring produced by each sibling.

Using the information and data, determine which of the statements are true or which are false.

Q43-1. Provide the direct fitness of genotype A, assuming that all offspring are females and females with different genotypes do not compete.

Q43-2. Rank genotypes A to D in descending order of inclusive fitness, assuming that all offspring are females.

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Question reproduced from IBO 2020, Theoretical Exam 2, licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 - attributed to the International Biology Olympiad. Open the full exam PDF · Community solutions (unofficial)