Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 19, 2026

Following the Dynamics of Structural Variants in Experimentally Evolved Populations
Published on: February 3, 2023
Evolution of specialization in resource utilization in structured metapopulations
Tuomas Nurmi1, Stefan Geritz, Kalle Parvinen
1Department of Mathematics, University of Turku, FIN-20014, Turku, Finland. tuomas.nurmi@utu.fi
Abstract:
We study the evolution of resource utilization in a structured discrete-time metapopulation model with an infinite number of patches, prone to local catastrophes. The consumer faces a trade-off in the abilities to consume two resources available in different amounts in each patch. We analyse how the evolution of specialization in the utilization of the resources is affected by different ecological factors: migration, local growth, local catastrophes, forms of the trade-off and distribution of the resources in the patches. Our modelling approach offers a natural way to include more than two patch types into the models. This has not been usually possible in the previous spatially heterogeneous models focusing on the evolution of specialization.
Related Concept Videos
What are Populations and Communities?
Speciation Rates
Evolution of New Traits in Microbes
Conservation of Small Populations
Population Growth
Ecological Niches

