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Beyond simple adaptation: Incorporating other evolutionary processes and concepts into eco-evolutionary dynamics.
Masato Yamamichi1,2, Stephen P Ellner3, Nelson G Hairston3
1School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
Ecology Letters
|October 15, 2023
Summary
Eco-evolutionary dynamics research should expand beyond simple adaptation to include diverse evolutionary processes like drift, mutation, and disruptive selection. Incorporating these underappreciated factors is crucial for a comprehensive understanding of ecological and evolutionary feedbacks.
Area of Science:
- Ecology
- Evolutionary Biology
- Population Genetics
Background:
- Eco-evolutionary dynamics integrate evolution and ecology across scales and interactions.
- Evolution is often simplified to short-term directional adaptation increasing population growth.
Purpose of the Study:
- To argue for the inclusion of diverse evolutionary processes in eco-evolutionary dynamics.
- To highlight underappreciated evolutionary mechanisms impacting ecological feedbacks.
Main Methods:
- Conceptual review integrating population genetics and evolutionary ecology.
- Analysis of evolutionary processes beyond simple adaptation.
Main Results:
- Diverse evolutionary processes like drift, mutation, and disruptive selection are relevant to eco-evolutionary dynamics.
- These processes can lead to lineage diversification, speciation reversal, and altered population growth dynamics.
Conclusions:
- A broader consideration of evolutionary mechanisms is necessary for predicting eco-evolutionary dynamics.
- Integrating population genetics and evolutionary ecology concepts will advance the field.
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