Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Speciation Rates01:07

Speciation Rates

Speciation can proceed at markedly different rates, and evolutionary biologists commonly describe these differences through the models of gradualism and punctuated equilibrium. Both patterns explain how new species arise, but they differ in the tempo and continuity of evolutionary change. In both cases, evolutionary change arises from heritable variation within populations, with natural selection often shaping traits that improve survival and reproduction under specific environmental conditions.
Ecological Niches02:02

Ecological Niches

All organisms have a position within an ecosystem. The complete set of living and nonliving factors—including food resources, climate, and terrain—that define the position of a given organism are collectively referred to as the organism’s ecological niche.Multiple species cannot occupy the exact same niche within their habitat. If the niches of two or more species overlap to a large extent, the competitive exclusion principle dictates that one species will outcompete the other, forcing it to...
Limits to Natural Selection01:38

Limits to Natural Selection

Organisms that are well-adapted to their environment are more likely to survive and reproduce. However, natural selection does not lead to perfectly adapted organisms. Several factors constrain natural selection.For one, natural selection can only act upon existing genetic variation. Hypothetically, redtusks may enhance elephant survival by deterring ivory-seeking poachers. However, if there are no gene variants—or alleles—for redtusks, natural selection cannot increase the prevalence of...
What is Evolutionary History?02:35

What is Evolutionary History?

Scientists record evolutionary history by analyzing fossil, morphological, and genetic data. The fossil record documents the history of life on Earth and provides evidence for evolution. However, both fossil and living organisms offer evidence that outlines Earth’s evolutionary history.Phylogenetic trees illustrate the evolutionary relationships among these organisms. Scientists infer organisms’ common ancestry by evaluating shared morphological and genetic characteristics. Together, the fossil...
Evolution of New Traits in Microbes01:24

Evolution of New Traits in Microbes

Microorganisms evolve rapidly due to their large population sizes and short generation times, often exhibiting measurable changes within days under laboratory conditions. Natural selection acts on standing genetic variation, enabling the retention and amplification of beneficial traits that confer fitness advantages in changing environments.Adaptive Pigment Regulation in RhodobacterIn Rhodobacter, a genus of purple non-sulfur bacteria, light-harvesting pigments such as bacteriochlorophyll and...
Ecological Niche01:12

Ecological Niche

Microorganisms occupy diverse habitats and perform essential ecological functions that are defined by their ecological niches. A microbial niche encompasses the organism’s mode of survival, including resource acquisition, reproduction, and interactions with other species in its environment. This concept is vital for understanding microbial community dynamics, biogeography, and ecosystem functionality.The fundamental niche of a microorganism includes the full spectrum of environmental...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Patient-reported postoperative pain and stigmatizing language in anesthesia notes: a cross-sectional study (2017-2019).

International journal of obstetric anesthesia·2025
Same author

Effects of Natura 2000 on nontarget bird and butterfly species based on citizen science data.

Conservation biology : the journal of the Society for Conservation Biology·2019
Same author

A glycoporphyrin story: from chemistry to PDT treatment of cancer mouse models.

Photochemical & photobiological sciences : Official journal of the European Photochemistry Association and the European Society for Photobiology·2018
Same author

HERITABILITY OF OVIPOSITION PREFERENCE AND ITS RELATIONSHIP TO OFFSPRING PERFORMANCE WITHIN A SINGLE INSECT POPULATION.

Evolution; international journal of organic evolution·2017
Same author

INCORPORATION OF A EUROPEAN WEED INTO THE DIET OF A NORTH AMERICAN HERBIVORE.

Evolution; international journal of organic evolution·2017
Same author

Habitat segregation in ungulates: are males forced into suboptimal foraging habitats through indirect competition by females?

Oecologia·2017
Same journal

Keep the Hubble and James Webb Space Telescopes alive - the science is worth the price tag.

Nature·2026
Same journal

Say hello to hard helium.

Nature·2026
Same journal

How to avoid dementia - what the science really says.

Nature·2026
Same journal

Save Hubble: the race to preserve the space telescope kicks off.

Nature·2026
Same journal

How long can humans live? All evidence points to a maximum of 125 years.

Nature·2026
Same journal

Listen to Gen Z when it comes to AI in education.

Nature·2026
See all related articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 29, 2026

Soil Lysimeter Excavation for Coupled Hydrological, Geochemical, and Microbiological Investigations
10:30

Soil Lysimeter Excavation for Coupled Hydrological, Geochemical, and Microbiological Investigations

Published on: September 11, 2016

Ecological and evolutionary processes at expanding range margins.

C D Thomas1, E J Bodsworth, R J Wilson

  • 1Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation, School of Biology, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, UK. c.d.thomas@leeds.ac.uk

Nature
|June 1, 2001
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Climate warming is enabling sedentary insects to expand their ranges by increasing habitat variety and dispersal. This ecological and evolutionary shift accelerates invasion rates, aiding adaptation to changing environments.

More Related Videos

Resurrection of Dormant Daphnia magna: Protocol and Applications
07:37

Resurrection of Dormant Daphnia magna: Protocol and Applications

Published on: January 19, 2018

JenaTron - An Experimental Approach to Study the Effects of Plant History and Soil History on Grassland Ecosystem Functioning
09:23

JenaTron - An Experimental Approach to Study the Effects of Plant History and Soil History on Grassland Ecosystem Functioning

Published on: March 21, 2025

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 29, 2026

Soil Lysimeter Excavation for Coupled Hydrological, Geochemical, and Microbiological Investigations
10:30

Soil Lysimeter Excavation for Coupled Hydrological, Geochemical, and Microbiological Investigations

Published on: September 11, 2016

Resurrection of Dormant Daphnia magna: Protocol and Applications
07:37

Resurrection of Dormant Daphnia magna: Protocol and Applications

Published on: January 19, 2018

JenaTron - An Experimental Approach to Study the Effects of Plant History and Soil History on Grassland Ecosystem Functioning
09:23

JenaTron - An Experimental Approach to Study the Effects of Plant History and Soil History on Grassland Ecosystem Functioning

Published on: March 21, 2025

Area of Science:

  • Ecology
  • Evolutionary Biology
  • Climate Change Biology

Background:

  • Species at the cool margins of their geographic ranges are often sedentary and specialized.
  • These species are typically slow to colonize new habitats.
  • Recent climate warming has led to rapid range expansion in many species at their cool distribution margins.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the ecological and evolutionary mechanisms behind rapid range expansion in four insect species in Britain over the past 20 years.
  • To determine if changes in habitat breadth or dispersal ability contribute to range expansion.
  • To quantify the impact of these changes on species' expansion rates.

Main Methods:

  • Examined four insect species exhibiting range expansion in Britain.
  • Assessed changes in habitat colonization variety for two butterfly species.
  • Quantified the proportion of longer-winged (dispersive) individuals in newly founded populations of two bush cricket species.

Main Results:

  • Two butterfly species demonstrated an increased variety of colonizable habitats.
  • Two bush cricket species showed a higher proportion of dispersive individuals in recent populations.
  • Expansion rates increased by 3- to 15-fold due to enhanced habitat breadth and dispersal.

Conclusions:

  • Both ecological and evolutionary processes drive rapid insect range expansion.
  • Increased habitat breadth and dispersal tendencies facilitate crossing of previously impassable habitat barriers.
  • The emergence of dispersive phenotypes is crucial for rapid species invasion and adaptation to climate change.