Evolution of Specialization in Heterogeneous Environments: Equilibrium Between Selection, Mutation and Migration.

Area of Science:

• Evolutionary biology
• Theoretical ecology
• Population genetics

Background:

• Adaptation in heterogeneous environments is driven by selection, mutation, and migration.
• Understanding the interplay of these forces is crucial for predicting evolutionary trajectories.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a novel theoretical framework for studying adaptation in spatially heterogeneous environments.
• To investigate the impact of high mutation rates on phenotypic distributions.
• To analyze evolutionary equilibrium under asymmetric demographic and selection pressures.

Main Methods:

• Developed a new theoretical approach extending the Adaptive Dynamics framework.
• Analyzed a two-habitat model with asexual reproduction.
• Examined stationary phenotypic distributions and evolutionary equilibrium.

Main Results:

• The new approach accurately captures phenotypic distribution shapes, improving on classical Gaussian approximations.
• Demonstrated that migration can enhance population differentiation in source-sink scenarios.
• The model effectively handles asymmetric selection and demography between habitats.

Conclusions:

• The developed framework provides accurate predictions for adaptation, especially with high mutation rates.
• Findings have implications for understanding the evolution of organisms like RNA viruses.
• Highlights the complex interplay between migration, selection, and mutation in driving diversification.