From: Rafal Smigrodzki (rafal@smigrodzki.org)
Date: Tue Aug 05 2003 - 19:41:29 MDT
Robert Bradbury wrote:
> On Tue, 5 Aug 2003, Rafal Smigrodzki wrote:
>
>> Basically, an r-strategist is a k-strategist in optimal
>> circumstances, with no competition. A k-strategist is an
>> r-strategist in lean times.
>
> Actually its somewhat different. r's evolve into k's as they trump
> their hazard function (i.e. as they defeat any predators). To do
> this you have to rise to the top of any local niche consumption
> hierarchy (or otherwise defeat it). In that position one evolves
> from r to k. The "lean times" scenario supports gene regulation
> shifting that explains the effects of caloric restriction -- but
> the overall species longevity (and reproductive strategy) is
> a function of hazard function management.
### I was not addressing the possibilities of evolving from one strategy to
another - I remarked that the two strategies, insofar as they are merely two
qualitative ways of seeing the same process, survival and reproduction, are
exhibited by *the same* organisms, depending on the circumstances.
--------------------------------------------
>
>> No basis for assuming any strategy as universal among space-capable
>> civs.
>
> Lots of basis if one assumes convergent evolution. For the scenario
> of endless reproduction/colonization to be valid one has to presume
> that a civilization would be capable of travel to another star system
> but not be capable of either self-directed evolution or uploading.
### Have you read "Burning the Cosmic Commons: Evolutionary Strategies for
Interstellar Colonization" by Robin Hanson?
Convergent evolution can indeed be expected, with the development of an
r-like initial strategy, but at the same time, probably without the loss of
the ability to behave in a k-like manner. Neither strategy will be
universal, and the exact one used by a civ will depend on its environment,
just like in bacteria and human families.
Rafal
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