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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 12, 2026

Modeling the Size Spectrum for Macroinvertebrates and Fishes in Stream Ecosystems

Modeling the Size Spectrum for Macroinvertebrates and Fishes in Stream Ecosystems

Published on: July 30, 2019

Overshooting dynamics in a model adaptive radiation.

Justin R Meyer¹, Sijmen E Schoustra, Josianne Lachapelle

¹Department of Zoology, Michigan State University, MI 48824, USA. justin.raymond.meyer@gmail.com

Proceedings. Biological Sciences

|June 18, 2010

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Adaptive radiation diversity initially increases then declines due to niche specialist loss, not external events. Competition, not just adaptation, drives this decline, suggesting different conditions for diversity emergence and maintenance.

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Last Updated: Jun 12, 2026

Modeling the Size Spectrum for Macroinvertebrates and Fishes in Stream Ecosystems

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Following the Dynamics of Structural Variants in Experimentally Evolved Populations

Following the Dynamics of Structural Variants in Experimentally Evolved Populations

Published on: February 3, 2023

Area of Science:

Evolutionary biology
Microbial ecology

Background:

Adaptive radiation drives rapid evolutionary diversification.
Diversity dynamics show an initial increase followed by a decline.
Causes of diversity decline in later stages are poorly understood.

Purpose of the Study:

To experimentally identify factors causing diversity loss in later stages of adaptive radiation.
To investigate the role of niche specialist morphotypes in diversity decline.
To understand the interplay of selection, adaptation, and competition in maintaining diversity.

Main Methods:

Utilized the bacterium Pseudomonas fluorescens as a model system for adaptive radiation.
Conducted experiments to track diversity dynamics and identify specific morphotypes.
Analyzed selection pressures and adaptation in resident niche specialists.

Main Results:

Diversity decline was proximately caused by the loss of biofilm-forming niche specialists.
Loss of diversity occurred despite ongoing divergent selection and adaptation.
Continued adaptation of specialists did not prevent diversity loss.

Conclusions:

Diversity losses in adaptive radiation may be an intrinsic consequence of competition.
Conditions favoring diversity emergence differ from those ensuring long-term maintenance.
Competition plays a critical role in limiting diversity during later evolutionary stages.