Evolutionary stable strategy

An Evolutionary Stable Strategy (ESS) is a concept from evolutionary biology and game theory that describes a strategy that, if adopted by a population, cannot be easily replaced by a different strategy. In essence, if most individuals in a group use this strategy, any mutant strategy that arises won't provide a better advantage in survival or reproduction. Simply put, an ESS is a strategy that is robust against alternatives, ensuring that it remains successful and stable in the face of competition. This concept helps explain how behaviors and traits evolve in species over time.