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Prospecting and informed dispersal: Understanding and predicting their joint eco-evolutionary dynamics
Aurore Ponchon1, Alice Scarpa1, Greta Bocedi1
1School of Biological Sciences University of Aberdeen Aberdeen UK.
Ecology and Evolution
|November 12, 2021
Summary
Informed dispersal, where animals assess breeding sites, is crucial for fitness and population persistence. Our model shows selection favors informed dispersal, especially when individuals can assess patch quality.
Area of Science:
- Ecology
- Evolutionary Biology
- Behavioral Ecology
Background:
- Dispersal decisions significantly impact individual fitness and metapopulation dynamics.
- Informed dispersal strategies, utilizing conspecific breeding success, are observed in many species.
- Existing models often lack integration of prospecting and public information in both emigration and settlement phases.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop an individual-based model integrating prospecting and public information use in dispersal.
- To explore the eco-evolutionary dynamics of informed dispersal strategies.
- To understand how emigration and settlement decisions influence individual fitness and demography.
Main Methods:
- Developed an individual-based model to simulate informed dispersal.
- Conducted experiments focusing on the evolution of prospecting behavior.
- Analyzed the concomitant evolution of emigration probability and prospecting.
Main Results:
- Selection favors informed dispersal using a limited number of prospected patches, unless patch discrimination fails.
- A plastic emigration strategy evolved: successful breeders remained (philopatric), while failed breeders emigrated more often, particularly with low conspecific success.
- The same prospecting strategy evolved in both experimental setups.
Conclusions:
- Integrating information use and prospecting into eco-evolutionary models enhances understanding of informed dispersal.
- Informed dispersal strategies are adaptive and can lead to plastic emigration behaviors.
- These findings have implications for spatial population dynamics and conservation efforts.
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