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Population differences in aggression are shaped by tropical cyclone-induced selection.

Alexander G Little1,2, David N Fisher2, Thomas W Schoener3

  • 1Department of Ecology, Evolution and Marine Biology, University of California, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA, USA.

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Summary

Extreme weather events like tropical cyclones can drive evolution. These events select for aggressive traits in the spider Anelosimus studiosus, influencing diversity and local adaptation.

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Area of Science:

  • Ecology
  • Evolutionary Biology
  • Behavioral Ecology

Background:

  • Extreme weather events, or 'black swan' events, significantly impact ecosystems.
  • Observing the ecological effects of these infrequent but powerful events is challenging.
  • Tropical cyclones are major drivers of environmental change.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the impact of tropical cyclones on the evolution of colony phenotypes in the group-living spider Anelosimus studiosus.
  • To determine if extreme weather events contribute to within-species diversity and local adaptation.

Main Methods:

  • Anticipating tropical cyclone trajectories to plan sampling.
  • Collecting population samples before and after cyclone landfall.
  • Analyzing changes in colony phenotypes, specifically aggression levels.

Main Results:

  • Tropical cyclones were found to select for more aggressive colony phenotypes in Anelosimus studiosus.
  • This selection pressure was significant enough to drive regional variations in colony phenotypes.
  • The effects were observed despite the irregular occurrence of tropical cyclone strikes.

Conclusions:

  • Extreme events like tropical cyclones can act as significant drivers of evolutionary change.
  • These events promote the evolution of functional traits, contributing to within-species diversity.
  • Tropical cyclones facilitate local adaptation in populations of Anelosimus studiosus.