Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Evolutionary Psychology

Evolutionary Psychology

Evolutionary psychology explores the origins of human behavior and mental processes by framing them within the context of natural selection, a theory famously propounded by Charles Darwin. This field asserts that many behaviors common across human societies — ranging from instinctive fear reactions to complex social interactions — arose as evolutionary adaptations. These adaptations enhanced the survival and reproductive success of our ancestors, thereby becoming embedded in the human psyche...

What is Evolutionary History?

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.

Evolution of New Traits in Microbes

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...

Evolutionary Processes in Microbes

Evolutionary Processes in Microbes

Microbial evolution occurs rapidly due to short generation times and a variety of genetic processes, including horizontal gene transfer, mutation, recombination, and genetic drift. These mechanisms collectively enable microbes to adapt swiftly to changing environments.Horizontal gene transfer (HGT) allows genes to move between different species and occurs through three main mechanisms: conjugation, transformation, and transduction. Conjugation involves direct cell-to-cell contact for DNA...

Convergent Evolution

Convergent Evolution

Evolution shapes the features of organisms over time, ensuring that they are suited for the environments in which they live. Sometimes, selection pressure leads to the rise of similar but unrelated adaptations in organisms with no recent common ancestors, a process known as convergent evolution.

The Evidence for Evolution

The Evidence for Evolution

Genetic variations accumulating within populations over generations give rise to biological evolution. Evolutionary changes can result in the formation of novel varieties and entire new species. These changes are responsible for the diverse forms of life inhabiting the planet. The evidence for evolution suggests that all living organisms descended from common ancestors.

You might also read

Related Articles

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

Sort by

Same author

Landscape fragmentation overturns classical metapopulation thinking.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·2024

Same author

Molecular evolution and radiation of dung beetles in Madagascar.

Cladistics : the international journal of the Willi Hennig Society·2021

Same author

Dynamics of a host-parasitoid interaction clarified by modelling and DNA sequencing.

Ecology letters·2020

Same author

Scaling up the effects of inbreeding depression from individuals to metapopulations.

The Journal of animal ecology·2019

Same author

Responses of generalist and specialist species to fragmented landscapes.

Theoretical population biology·2018

Same author

Soil exposure modifies the gut microbiota and supports immune tolerance in a mouse model.

The Journal of allergy and clinical immunology·2018

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 24, 2026

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

Eco-evolutionary dynamics in a changing world.

¹Department of Biosciences, University of Helsinki, Finland. ilkka.hanski@helsinki.fi

Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences

|February 17, 2012

Summary

Rapid evolution in populations is common but brief, often driven by environmental shifts. Spatial eco-evolutionary dynamics, especially in marginal habitats and metapopulations, link ecological and evolutionary processes for species persistence.

Area of Science:

Ecology
Evolutionary Biology
Population Dynamics

Background:

Fast evolutionary changes occur in natural populations, often linked to environmental changes.
Evolutionary and ecological dynamics can influence each other, particularly during rapid evolution episodes.
Spatial dynamics are crucial for understanding species in marginal habitats and metapopulations.

Purpose of the Study:

To review spatial eco-evolutionary dynamics.
To focus on species in marginal habitats and metapopulations in heterogeneous environments.
To explore the role of dispersal and gene flow in linking demographic and evolutionary processes.

Main Methods:

Review of existing literature on spatial eco-evolutionary dynamics.
Analysis of the role of dispersal and gene flow.

More Related Videos

Daily Transfers, Archiving Populations, and Measuring Fitness in the Long-Term Evolution Experiment with Escherichia coli

Daily Transfers, Archiving Populations, and Measuring Fitness in the Long-Term Evolution Experiment with Escherichia coli

Published on: August 18, 2023

Resurrection of Dormant Daphnia magna: Protocol and Applications

Resurrection of Dormant Daphnia magna: Protocol and Applications

Published on: January 19, 2018

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: May 24, 2026

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

Daily Transfers, Archiving Populations, and Measuring Fitness in the Long-Term Evolution Experiment with Escherichia coli

Daily Transfers, Archiving Populations, and Measuring Fitness in the Long-Term Evolution Experiment with Escherichia coli

Published on: August 18, 2023

Resurrection of Dormant Daphnia magna: Protocol and Applications

Resurrection of Dormant Daphnia magna: Protocol and Applications

Published on: January 19, 2018

Application of an eco-evolutionary metapopulation model.

Main Results:

Dispersal and gene flow are key processes linking demographic and evolutionary dynamics.
These processes influence niche expansion, geographical range, and adaptation patterns in heterogeneous environments.
An eco-evolutionary metapopulation model explains species' responses to habitat loss and fragmentation.

Conclusions:

Eco-evolutionary dynamics can aid species persistence in changing environments.
Evolutionary responses partially compensate for negative ecological consequences of environmental change.
Spatial eco-evolutionary dynamics are critical for understanding species' adaptation and survival.