Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Review Article
  • Published:

Evolutionary theory of parent–offspring conflict

Abstract

Natural selection can act in different ways on genes expressed in parents and their young, giving rise to parent–offspring conflict. The way in which this genetic conflict manifests itself at the behavioural level is unclear, and there has been widespread dissatisfaction that the theory has provided few testable predictions. A recent shift in emphasis from models that define the possible extent of conflict to those that predict its resolution offers greater hope of a testable theory of parent–offspring conflict.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Buy this article

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Clutton-Brock, T. H. The Evolution of Parental Care (Princeton Univ. Press, Princeton, NJ, 1991).

    Google Scholar 

  2. Hamilton, W. D. J. theor. Biol. 7, 1–52 (1964).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Trivers, R. L. Am. Zool. 14, 249–264 (1974).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Alexander, R. D. A. Rev. Ecol. Syst. 5, 325–383 (1974).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Mock, D. W. & Forbes, L. S. Trends Ecol. Evol. 7, 409–413 (1992).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Bateson, P. Trends Ecol. Evol. 9, 399–403 (1994).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Trivers, R. L. & Hare, H. Science 191, 249–263 (1976).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Godfray, H. C. J. Am. Nat. 129, 221–233 (1987).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Nonacs, P. Q. Rev. Biol. 61, 1–21 (1986).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Boomsma, J. J. Am. Nat. 133, 517–532 (1989).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Bourke, A. F. G. Q. Rev. Biol. 63, 291–311 (1988).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Rosenheim, J. A. Am. Nat. 141, 90–104 (1993).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Eshel, I. & Sansone, E. Am. Nat. 138, 954–972 (1991).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Eshel, I. & Sansone, E. Am. Nat. 143, 987–1006 (1994).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Uma Shaanker, R., Ganeshaiah, K. N. & Bawa, K. S. A. Rev. Ecol. Syst. 19, 177–205 (1988).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Queller, D. C. Oxford Surv. evol. Biol. 6, 73–109 (1989).

    Google Scholar 

  17. Emlen, S. T. & Wrege, P. H. Nature 356, 331–333 (1992).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  18. Haig, D. & Graham, C. Cell 64, 1045–1046 (1995).

    Google Scholar 

  19. Haig, D. Q. Rev. Biol. 68, 495–532 (1993).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Haig, D. Devl Biol. 3, 153–160 (1992).

    Google Scholar 

  21. Dawkins, R. The Selfish Gene (Oxford Univ. Press, Oxford, 1976).

    Google Scholar 

  22. Johnstone, R. A. Nature 372, 172–175 (1994).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Parker, G. A. Anim. Behav. 33, 519–533 (1985).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. Lundberg, S. & Smith, H. J. theor. Biol. (1994).

  25. Godfray, H. C. J. & Parker, G. A. Phil. Trans. R. Soc. B332, 67–79 (1991).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  26. Godfray, H. C. J. & Parker, G. A. Anim. Behav. 43, 473–490 (1992).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  27. Roitberg, B. D. & Mangel, M. Am. Nat. 142, 443–456 (1993).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. Parker, G. A. & Mock, D. W. Evol. Ecol. 1, 161–174 (1987).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  29. Redondo, T. & Castro, F. Ibis 134, 180–187 (1992).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  30. Haskell, D. Proc. R. Soc. B257, 161–164 (1994).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  31. Zahavi, A. in Evolutionary Ecology (eds Stonehouse, B. & Perrins, C.) 253–259 (University Park Press, Baltimore, MD, 1977).

    Google Scholar 

  32. Parker, G. A. & Macnair, M. R. Anim. Behav. 26, 97–110 (1978).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  33. Macnair, M. R. & Parker, G. A. Anim. Behav. 26, 111–122 (1978).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  34. Macnair, M. R. & Parker, G. A. Anim. Behav. 27, 1202–1209 (1979).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  35. Parker, G. A. & Macnair, M. R. Anim. Behav. 27, 1210–1235 (1979).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  36. Stamps, J., Metcalf, R. & Krishnan, V. Behav. Ecol. Sociobiol. 3, 367–392 (1978).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  37. Stamps, J. & Metcalf, R. A. in Sociobiology: Beyond Nature/Nurture (eds Barlow, G. W. & Silverberg, J.) 589–618 (Westview, 1980).

    Google Scholar 

  38. Feldman, M. W. & Eshel, I. Am. Nat. 119, 285–292 (1982).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  39. Yamamura, N. & Higashi, M. Evolution 46, 1236–1239 (1992).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  40. Eshel, I. & Feldman, M. W. Am. Nat. 137, 167–185 (1991).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  41. Zahavi, A. J. theor. Biol. 67, 603–605 (1975).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  42. Grafen, A. J. theor. Biol. 144, 473–516 (1990).

    Article  MathSciNet  CAS  Google Scholar 

  43. Grafen, A. J. theor. Biol. 144, 517–546 (1990).

    Article  MathSciNet  CAS  Google Scholar 

  44. Godfray, H. C. J. Nature 352, 328–330 (1991).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  45. Godfray, H. C. J. Am. Nat. (in the press).

  46. Johnstone, R. A. & Grafen, A. Anim. Behav. 46, 759–764 (1993).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  47. Mangel, M. & Clark, C. W. Dynamic Modeling in Behavioral Ecology (Princeton Univ. Press, Princeton, NJ, 1988).

    Google Scholar 

  48. Clark, C. W. & Ydenberg, R. C. Evol. Ecol. 4, 312–325 (1990).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  49. Tokuda, H. & Seno, H. J. theor. Biol. 170, 145–157 (1994).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  50. Clutton-Brock, T. H. & Parker, G. A. Nature 373, 209–216 (1995).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  51. Mock, D. W. & Parker, G. A. The Evolution of Sibling Rivalry (Oxford Univ. Press, Oxford, in the press).

  52. Sjerps, M. & Haccou, P. Evol. Ecol. 8, 269–287 (1994).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  53. Rydén, O. & Bengtsson, H. Z. Tierpsychol. 53, 209–224 (1980).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  54. McRae, S. B., Weatherhead, P. J. & Montgomerie, R. Behav. Ecol. Sociobiol. 33, 102–106 (1993).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  55. Magrath, R. D. Biol. Rev. 65, 587–622 (1990).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  56. Parker, G. A., Mock, D. W. & Lamey, T. C. Am. Nat. 133, 846–868 (1989).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  57. Mock, D. W. Behav. Ecol. Sociobiol. 20, 247–256 (1987).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  58. Mock, D. W., Lamey, T. C. & Ploger, B. J. Ecology 68, 1760–1772 (1987).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  59. Harper, A. B. Am. Nat. 128, 99–114 (1986).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  60. Lazerus, J. & Inglis, B. Anim. Behav. 34, 1791–1804 (1986).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  61. Smith, H. G. & Montgomerie, R. Behav. Ecol. Sociobiol. 29, 307–312 (1991).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  62. O'Connor, R. J. Anim. Behav. 26, 79–96 (1978).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  63. Mock, D. W. in Infanticide: Comparative and Evolutionary Perspectives (eds Hausfater, G. & Hrdy, S. B.) 3–30 (Aldine, New York, 1984).

    Google Scholar 

  64. Mock, D. W., Drummond, H. & Stinson, C. H. Am. Scient. 78, 438–449 (1990).

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  65. Lack, D. Ibis 89, 302–352 (1947).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  66. Lack, D. The Natural Regulation of Animal Numbers (Clarendon, Oxford, 1954).

    Google Scholar 

  67. Temme, D. H. & Charnov, E. L. J. theor. Biol. 126, 137–147 (1987).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  68. Pijanowski, B. C. Am. Nat. 139, 1270–1292 (1992).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  69. Dorward, D. F. Ibis 103, 174–200 (1962).

    Google Scholar 

  70. Anderson, D. J. Am. Nat. 135, 334–350 (1990).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  71. Forbes, L. S. J. theor. Biol. 147, 345–359 (1990).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  72. Polis, G. A. A. Rev. Ecol. Syst. 12, 225–251 (1981).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  73. Stinson, C. H. Evolution 33, 1219–1225 (1979).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  74. Dickens, D. W. & Clark, R. A. J. theor. Biol. 125, 301–305 (1987).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  75. Mock, D. W. & Parker, G. A. Evolution 40, 459–470 (1986).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  76. Godfray, H. C. J. & Harper, A. B. J. theor. Biol. 145, 163–175 (1990).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  77. Andersen, D. J. Evolution 44, 2069–2082 (1990).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  78. Forbes, L. S. Oikos 62, 325–332 (1991).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  79. Forbes, L. S. Am. Nat. 142, 82–117 (1993).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  80. Drummond, H., Gonzalez, E. & Osorno, J. L. Behav. Ecol. Sociobiol. 19, 365–373 (1986).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  81. Simmons, R. Ibis 130, 339–357 (1988).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  82. Koslowski, J. & Stearns, S. C. Evolution 43, 1369–1377 (1989).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  83. Mock, D. W. & Lamey, T. C. Am. Nat. 138, 1015–1026 (1991).

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Godfray, H. Evolutionary theory of parent–offspring conflict. Nature 376, 133–138 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1038/376133a0

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/376133a0

This article is cited by

Comments

By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.

Search

Quick links

Nature Briefing

Sign up for the Nature Briefing newsletter — what matters in science, free to your inbox daily.

Get the most important science stories of the day, free in your inbox. Sign up for Nature Briefing