Population and evolutionary dynamics in spatially structured seasonally varying environments

Area of Science:

• Ecology
• Evolutionary Biology
• Population Dynamics

Background:

• Seasonal environmental variation significantly impacts population dynamics and evolution.
• Existing models often overlook individual variation in life-history traits like migration.
• Partial migration, a common phenomenon, exists on a continuum between full migration and year-round residence.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a conceptual framework for spatio-temporal population dynamics in partially migratory systems.
• To outline how to model individual variation in migration and its impact on population dynamics.
• To identify theoretical and empirical knowledge gaps in understanding partial migration.

Main Methods:

• Review of existing partial migration models and theory.
• Definition of a 'partially migratory meta-population' system.
• Development of an evolutionary individual-based model to simulate partial migration dynamics.
• Synthesis of empirical studies on partial migration.

Main Results:

• Partial migration models are often simplistic compared to full migration or dispersal models.
• Multiple forms of partial migration can coexist in spatially structured landscapes.
• Empirical studies show diverse associations between partial migration, reproduction, and survival.

Conclusions:

• A new framework for partially migratory meta-populations is proposed to integrate spatial structure and seasonal dynamics.
• Further development of eco-evolutionary models is needed to forecast responses to environmental change.
• Addressing theoretical and empirical gaps is crucial for understanding population persistence in variable environments.