The process whose specific outcome is the progression of a non-reproductive fruiting body over time, from its formation to the mature structure. A non-reproductive fruiting body is a colonial multicellular structure consisting of co-operating unicellular organisms, some of which are spores. An example of such a process is found in Dictyostelium discoideum and Myxococcus xanthus colonies.
Synonyms:
exact_synonym:
colonial development; socially co-operative development