Final answer:
If a behavior or trait increases the productivity of unrelated individuals in a population, it can lead to higher fitness for all by enhancing survival and reproduction rates. This is connected to genetic diversity and adaptive success through mechanisms like mutations and sexual reproduction. Cooperative behaviors in social insects are an example of how such traits can evolve and benefit all individuals genetically.
Step-by-step explanation:
If a behavior or trait raises the productivity of a group of unrelated individuals, all individuals may gain higher fitness by improving their chances of survival and reproduction. This scenario is an example of how genetic diversity and behavior can increase the adaptive success of a population. Genetic diversity arises from mechanisms such as mutations, sexual reproduction, and meiosis which lead to a range of phenotypes that may be advantageous in changing environments.
In the context of social insects like bees and ants, even those who are sterile workers and cannot reproduce directly will act in the interest of the queen, a form of kin selection. By supporting the queen, they're indirectly passing on related genes, thereby increasing their inclusive fitness. This can explain the evolution of such cooperative behavior which may seem altruistic but contributes to the individual's genetic success. As a result, individuals or populations with beneficial traits or behaviors are more likely to survive and reproduce, passing on those advantageous traits to the next generation.