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Slow Evolution Towards Generalism in a Model of Variable Dietary Range.
Elliot M Butterworth1, Tim Rogers2
1Department of Mathematical Sciences, University of Bath, Claverton Down, BA2 7AY, Bath, United Kingdom. emb209@bath.ac.uk.
Bulletin of Mathematical Biology
|June 30, 2026
Summary
Species evolve their diets based on resource availability and competition. Mathematical models show that while narrow diets reduce competition, random events ultimately favor the evolution of broader, generalist diets.
Area of Science:
- Ecology
- Evolutionary Biology
- Mathematical Biology
Background:
- Species in shared habitats co-evolve resource utilization.
- Competition and feedback loops modulate species consumption patterns.
- Dietary range influences interspecific competition and resource reliance.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the evolutionary dynamics of dietary range using a niche formation model.
- To understand the co-evolutionary processes shaping species' feeding strategies.
Main Methods:
- Development of a mathematical model for niche formation.
- Simulation of co-evolutionary dynamics under varying ecological pressures.
- Analysis of path dependency and stability in dietary evolution.
Main Results:
- Co-evolutionary dynamics are highly path dependent, leading to quasi-stable states.
- Stochastic (random) effects play a crucial role in evolutionary trajectories.
- The model predicts a tendency towards the evolution of generalist diets over time.
Conclusions:
- Dietary range evolution is a complex process influenced by both deterministic and stochastic factors.
- Long-term ecological dynamics can lead to the prevalence of generalist species.
- Mathematical modeling provides insights into the mechanisms driving niche evolution.
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