Population turnover facilitates cultural selection for efficiency

• DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-88894/v2
• Publication Date: 2021-01-14T23:12:22Z
• Authors: Michael Chimento; Gustavo Alarcon-N...; Lucy Aplin
• Keywords: Turnover

Abstract Selection for more efficient socially learned behaviors over alternatives is crucial cumulative cultural evolution, yet our understanding of such selection in animals limited. We performed a diffusion experiment using 18 populations wild-caught great tits Parus major to ask whether foraging traditions are selected for, and this process affected by turnover. show that gradual replacement individuals greatly increases the probability behavior will invade population's repertoire, out-competing an established inefficient behavior. Turnover does not increase innovation rates, but instead adoption as immigrants susceptible novel, behaviors. An agent based model further supported results demonstrating effect holds across different types learners. Altogether, these provide strong evidence efficiency animals, highlight importance population turnover process.