Is it that organisms that use r-stratagy care for all their kin or just their offspring?
There is some evidence from primate studies that maternal brothers act together cooperatively, and this is reflected in the genetic make up, see Langergraber et al (
2007).
I just can't wrap my head around how genes can make an organism aware that protecting another organism is necessary in order to help save copies of the genes belonging to that organism.
They don't have to make them aware of anything, the genes just need to influence their behaviour. Genes which produce behavioural traits which lead to the preservation/ propagation of those genes in multiple organisms will tend to increase in frequency in a population. This is true whether that increase is through production of multiple low investment offspring or a few high investment offspring, although which is most suitable will depend on the organisms environment and niche.
TTFN,
WK
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