About the Authors

William C. Ratcliff

Affiliation Ecology Evolution and Behavior, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, Minnesota, United States of America

Peter Hawthorne

Affiliation Ecology Evolution and Behavior, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, Minnesota, United States of America

Michael Travisano

Affiliation Ecology Evolution and Behavior, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, Minnesota, United States of America

R. Ford Denison

denis036@umn.edu

Affiliation Ecology Evolution and Behavior, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, Minnesota, United States of America

Competing Interests

The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Author Contributions

Wrote the paper: WCR MT RFD. Helped develop the hypothesis and the first part of the model: RFD. Originated the key hypothesis and had a major role in developing its implications: WCR. Developed the second part of the model: PH. Helped refine hypothesis and provided key concepts and references: MT.