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Rapid evolution as an ecological process.
1Depts of Botany and Zoology, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164-4238, USA.
Trends in Ecology & Evolution
|January 18, 2011
Summary
Rapid evolution significantly impacts ecological community dynamics within a century. Incorporating rapid evolution as a standard hypothesis can advance ecological studies and applied biological sciences.
Area of Science:
- Ecology
- Evolutionary Biology
- Population Dynamics
Background:
- Interspecific interactions are evolving rapidly, over timescales of approximately 100 years.
- This rapid evolution is increasingly recognized for its potential to influence ecological community dynamics.
- However, rapid evolution is not yet a standard hypothesis in many ecological studies of population structure and community organization.
Purpose of the Study:
- To highlight the ecological significance of rapid evolution in interspecific interactions.
- To advocate for the integration of rapid evolution as a standard hypothesis in ecological research.
- To underscore the potential of evolutionary ecology to become a central applied biological science.
Main Methods:
- Review and synthesis of existing research on rapid interspecific interactions.
- Conceptual analysis of the role of rapid evolution in ecological dynamics.
- Discussion of the implications for the field of evolutionary ecology.
Main Results:
- Rapid evolution over ~100 years demonstrably influences ecological community dynamics.
- A gap exists in the routine application of rapid evolution as a working hypothesis in ecological studies.
- Integrating rapid evolution enhances the applied relevance of evolutionary ecology.
Conclusions:
- Rapid evolutionary changes in species interactions are ecologically significant.
- Adopting rapid evolution as a standard hypothesis is crucial for advancing ecological understanding.
- Evolutionary ecology holds substantial potential as a central applied biological science.
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