Evolution of germ and soma in colonies with identical cells: A concave trade-off, a resource constraint and different ‘importances’ of viability and fecundity (Case 2).

<p>Here we assume that we have three groups of cells within the colony such that all cells from each group have the same level of fecundity and the same level of viability (i.e., we have three ‘aggregate’ cells in the colony). Optimal strategies of the colony are colored in red. In panel (a) the optimal solutions represent a connected set (set <i>A</i>) of unspecialized states that provides opportunities for adaptation for the colony at hand. In panel (b), the set <i>A</i> is a three-point set. The trade-off between the production difficulties and the fitness benefits of one fitness component (panel (b)) is one of the main reasons for the emergence of specialization in small-sized colonies. In both panels, <i>α</i> = 1, <i>φ =</i> 1-<i>b</i>², <i>k</i>₁ = 2 and <i>k</i>₂ = 1. In panel (a), <i>β</i> = 0.5 and <i>C</i> = 5.5, In panel (b), <i>β</i> = 0.25 and <i>C =</i> 5.