Understanding Maladaptation by Uniting Ecological and Evolutionary Perspectives

Area of Science:

• Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
• Population Dynamics
• Environmental Change

Background:

• Evolutionary biology traditionally focuses on relative fitness and natural selection.
• Ecological studies emphasize absolute fitness, population abundance, and range shifts.
• These distinct perspectives often lead to differing interpretations of adaptation and maladaptation.

Discussion:

• Maladaptation, defined as reduced fitness, is common from both relative and absolute fitness viewpoints.
• Contrasting observations of maladaptation exist: populations may grow despite relative maladaptation, or decline despite appearing locally adapted.
• Human-mediated environmental changes exacerbate the need to understand these fitness disconnects.

Key Insights:

• Maladaptation can manifest differently when viewed through relative versus absolute fitness lenses.
• Discrepancies between relative and absolute fitness measures highlight complex population dynamics.
• A unified framework is crucial for accurately assessing population health and adaptive potential.

Outlook:

• Integrating evolutionary and ecological perspectives on maladaptation offers a more comprehensive understanding of biological responses to environmental change.
• This unified approach can bridge previously separate research areas and address practical conservation challenges.
• Future research should focus on the interplay between absolute and relative fitness in diverse ecological contexts.