Adaptation and evolutionary rescue in metapopulations experiencing environmental deterioration

Area of Science:

• Ecology
• Evolutionary Biology
• Microbiology

Background:

• Species persistence in deteriorating environments is uncertain.
• The interplay between ecological and evolutionary dynamics is crucial for adaptation.
• Understanding eco-evolutionary rescue is vital for predicting species survival.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the eco-evolutionary dynamics of metapopulations under environmental deterioration.
• To determine the influence of deterioration rate and dispersal on adaptation and evolutionary rescue.
• To assess the role of population size and location in adaptation.

Main Methods:

• Utilized a laboratory model system with yeast populations under salt stress.
• Exposed metapopulations to environmental deterioration at varying rates (gradual vs. abrupt).
• Manipulated population connectivity through unconnected, local dispersal, and global dispersal treatments.

Main Results:

• Adaptation and persistence were favored by gradual environmental deterioration and local dispersal.
• Evolutionary rescue frequency depended on prior deterioration rates and dispersal rates after abrupt changes.
• Small peripheral populations exhibited surprisingly frequent and rapid adaptation.

Conclusions:

• Evolutionary dynamics significantly influence species' ability to adapt and persist.
• The rate of environmental change and dispersal patterns are key factors in evolutionary rescue.
• Population structure and size play critical roles in adaptive responses to environmental stress.