Performance-based habitat choice can drive rapid adaptive divergence and reproductive isolation

Area of Science:

• Ecology
• Evolutionary Biology
• Behavioral Ecology

Background:

• Theoretical models predict performance-based habitat choice influences ecological and evolutionary dynamics.
• Empirical evidence for this widespread phenomenon has been limited.

Purpose of the Study:

• To experimentally investigate performance-based habitat choice in wild tree sparrows (Passer montanus).
• To determine if this behavior drives local adaptation, reproductive isolation, and speciation.

Main Methods:

• Manipulated differential access to feeders in two woodland areas to induce performance-based habitat choice.
• Utilized transponder-operated feeders to track individual sparrow feeding performance and habitat selection.
• Monitored breeding success and mating patterns within the sparrow population.

Main Results:

• Sparrows preferentially moved to and bred in areas with higher feeding performance.
• Observed local adaptation and increased reproductive success in the chosen high-performance habitat.
• Documented significant assortative mating and reproductive isolation based on habitat choice within one generation.

Conclusions:

• Performance-based habitat choice can rapidly drive adaptive population divergence, even without divergent natural selection.
• This behavior is a crucial mechanism in ecological and evolutionary dynamics, including speciation.
• Integrating performance-based habitat choice is vital for understanding adaptation, especially in changing environments.