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 Experiment Videos

Ecological bistability and evolutionary reversals under asymmetrical competition.

Fabio Dercole1, Régis Ferrière, Sergio Rinaldi

  • 1CIRITA, Politecnico di Milano, Italy. dercole@elet.polimi.it

Evolution; International Journal of Organic Evolution
|July 30, 2002
PubMed
Summary

Life-history evolution can lead to adaptive reversals and cyclic population dynamics when multiple ecological equilibria exist. This occurs through specific evolutionary mechanisms, not environmental changes.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

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

Sort by
Same author

In silico models in oncology, neurology, and epidemiology: systems-level and multiscale perspectives.

NPJ systems biology and applications·2026
Same author

Spectro-temporal modulation templates for human perception of animal vocalisations in natural soundscapesa).

The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America·2026
Same author

Modulation statistics of natural soundscapesa).

The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America·2026
Same author

Potential metabolic viability on asteroid chemistry.

Communications chemistry·2026
Same author

Publisher Correction: Activation energies of both constructive and destructive cellular biochemistry determine maximum growth temperature in archaea.

Communications biology·2025
Same author

Activation energies of both constructive and destructive cellular biochemistry determine maximum growth temperature in archaea.

Communications biology·2025

Area of Science:

  • Ecology
  • Evolutionary Biology
  • Theoretical Biology

Background:

  • Life-history evolution and population dynamics are often modeled assuming a unique ecological state per trait combination.
  • Existing models may not fully capture complex evolutionary dynamics under multiple equilibria.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the interplay between life-history evolution and population dynamics when multiple ecological equilibria are possible.
  • To identify the mechanisms driving evolutionary reversals and cyclic population dynamics.

Main Methods:

  • Theoretical modeling of phenotypic trait evolution and population dynamics.
  • Analysis of conditions leading to adaptive reversals and fixation failures of mutants.
  • Examination of the role of asymmetrical competition in selection direction.

Related Experiment Videos

Main Results:

  • Multiple ecological equilibria can lead to adaptive reversals in traits affecting competitive performance.
  • Evolutionary reversals can drive cyclic alternations between population equilibria.
  • A twofold mechanism involving transitory mutant growth and asymmetrical competition induces reversals.
  • Sharp transitions between evolutionary stasis and cycling can occur with smooth ecological parameter changes.

Conclusions:

  • The existence of multiple ecological equilibria is a key factor in generating evolutionary reversals and population cycles.
  • These dynamics can occur without external environmental changes or interspecific coevolution.
  • Findings have implications for understanding size-abundance relationships in ecological systems.