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Local adaptation in dispersal in multi-resource landscapes
Meredith Cenzer1,2, Leithen K M'Gonigle1,3
1Department of Biological Science, Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida, 32306.
Evolution; International Journal of Organic Evolution
|February 6, 2019
Summary
Resource spatial autocorrelation influences the evolution of dispersal strategies. Different resource structures can lead to distinct dispersal patterns and potentially the coexistence of specialized populations.
Area of Science:
- Ecology
- Evolutionary Biology
- Spatial Ecology
Background:
- Resource distribution significantly impacts the evolution of dispersal traits.
- Dispersal influences gene flow and local adaptation in heterogeneous environments.
- Limited research exists on dispersal evolution in multi-resource landscapes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the evolution of dispersal in landscapes with two resource types.
- To analyze how differing spatial autocorrelations of resources affect dispersal strategies.
- To determine conditions favoring the coexistence of distinct dispersal strategies.
Main Methods:
- Modeling the evolution of dispersal in simulated landscapes.
- Varying the spatial autocorrelation of two distinct resource types.
- Analyzing the relationship between resource structure and dispersal strategy divergence.
Main Results:
- Resources with different spatial autocorrelations select for distinct optimal dispersal strategies.
- Multi-resource landscapes can support the stable coexistence of varied dispersal strategies.
- Divergence in dispersal depends on resource structure and ecological specialization linkage.
Conclusions:
- Spatial autocorrelation of resources is a key factor in evolutionary branching.
- Resource heterogeneity can drive the evolution of specialized dispersal strategies.
- This research informs the conditions for the emergence of reproductive isolation between specialists.
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