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Demographic responses underlying eco-evolutionary dynamics as revealed with inverse modelling
Marjolein Bruijning1, Eelke Jongejans1, Martin M Turcotte2
1Department of Animal Ecology and Physiology, Radboud University, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
The Journal of Animal Ecology
|February 26, 2019
Summary
Understanding how vital rates like growth, survival, and reproduction drive eco-evolutionary dynamics is key. This study used inverse modeling to quantify these effects in aphid populations, revealing significant clonal variation and environmental impacts.
Area of Science:
- Ecology
- Evolutionary Biology
- Population Dynamics
Background:
- Population dynamics are shaped by interacting ecological and evolutionary processes affecting vital rates (growth, survival, fecundity).
- Understanding vital rate contributions offers a mechanistic insight into eco-evolutionary dynamics beyond population trends.
- Myzus persicae (aphids) exhibit rapid evolutionary dynamics, making them a model for studying these interactions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To estimate demographic rates and their contribution to eco-evolutionary dynamics in Myzus persicae populations.
- To investigate how vital rates respond to density, predation, and competition.
- To differentiate the impacts of ecological factors and evolutionary changes on population growth.
Main Methods:
- Utilized stage-structured population data from field experiments (caged/uncaged) and individual life table data.
- Employed inverse modeling within a Bayesian framework to estimate transition matrices and demographic rates.
- Incorporated density-dependent effects and clone-specific variations into the population model.
Main Results:
- Significant variation in vital rates and density responses among aphid clones was observed, suggesting trade-offs between reproduction and survival.
- Negative density dependence affected growth and reproduction, while predators/competitors decreased these rates but increased survival.
- Evolving populations under uncaged conditions showed increased growth rates, influenced by plant size and shifts in clonal composition.
Conclusions:
- Inverse modeling effectively quantified the contribution of vital rates to eco-evolutionary dynamics.
- Plant size and evolutionary changes in clonal composition significantly shaped population growth rates.
- The study highlights the complexity of inverse modeling and its potential for understanding eco-evolutionary processes.
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