The Evolution of Cooperation

Welcome to the lab.

This site was originally created in the mid-late 1990s, updated in 2015 to convert Java applets to JavaScript, and new styling was applied in 2026. In this study you will be investigating different models and theories of the evolution of cooperation in animals.

In order to conduct this study you will need a JavaScript-enabled web browser. Modern browsers (Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge) work automatically — no special configuration needed.

This lab is organized as a guided walkthrough. You will begin with an introduction, then observe cooperative behavior in the field, and finally explore three interactive computer models in the lab. The library contains supplementary reference material you can consult at any time.