Do you think that our species is exempt from "kill-the-winner" predator-prey dynamics? (KTW is the colloquial term for the cyclical dynamic by which phages promote community evenness by reducing the numbers of the most abundant bacterial strains.)
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On a smaller scale than that to which the above comment refers, how about considering individual, isolated groups. Families that are successful enough to outcompete other families are then prone to demise from inbreeding. Middle eastern ruling families, anyone?
Hi, Erika,
Indeed, this same notion can be applied at many different levels, driven by many different mechanisms. However, at least in a biological context, kill-the-winner specifically refers to the cyclical dynamics of predators and their prey. An increase in the prey population (the winners) leads to an increase in the predator population, and the numerous predators then reduce the prey population. With fewer prey, the predators in turn die back to a smaller population, allowing the prey population to increase once again. So although in-breeding could lead to a decline in those families, this is not kill-the-winner dynamics.
Merry
Posted by: szymanskiea | July 01, 2011 at 08:21 AM