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Evolution of delayed dispersal with group size effect and population dynamics
1Department of Mathematics, Western University, 1151 Richmond Street, London, Ontario, N6A 5B7, Canada.
Theoretical Population Biology
|February 28, 2024
Summary
Delayed dispersal evolves with improved group living benefits, but not when individuals gain more from delaying reproduction. Low establishment probability doesn't always increase delayed dispersal.
Area of Science:
- Evolutionary biology
- Behavioral ecology
- Population dynamics
Background:
- Delayed natal dispersal is a precursor to complex social structures and behaviors.
- Environmental quality improvements, such as increased safety in numbers, can influence dispersal decisions.
- Understanding the drivers of delayed dispersal is crucial for explaining sociality.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the evolution of delayed dispersal in environments where group size enhances quality.
- To determine how changes in fecundity and survival affect delayed dispersal.
- To analyze the relationship between delayed dispersal levels, establishment probability, and parent-offspring conflict.
Main Methods:
- A theoretical model integrating evolutionary dynamics with population dynamics.
- Analysis of kin selection principles in a sexual organism.
- Examination of how life-history traits influence delayed dispersal equilibrium.
Main Results:
- Fecundity and survival benefits from group living generally promote higher levels of delayed dispersal.
- Individuals benefiting most directly from group size do not necessarily increase delayed dispersal.
- A low probability of establishing independently does not always correlate with increased delayed dispersal.
- Increased personal benefits of delayed dispersal intensify parent-offspring conflict.
Conclusions:
- Group benefits significantly shape the evolution of delayed dispersal, with nuances based on who reaps the benefits.
- The study challenges previous assumptions linking low establishment probability directly to higher delayed dispersal rates.
- Findings highlight the complex interplay between environmental factors, life-history traits, and social evolution, particularly concerning parent-offspring conflict.
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