Title: The evolutionary ecology of metacommunities
Abstract: Research on the interactions between evolutionary and ecological dynamics has largely focused on local spatial scales and on relatively simple ecological communities. However, recent work demonstrates that dispersal can drastically alter the interplay between ecological and evolutionary dynamics, often in unexpected ways. We argue that a dispersal-centered synthesis of metacommunity ecology and evolution is necessary to make further progress in this important area of research. We demonstrate that such an approach generates several novel outcomes and substantially enhances understanding of both ecological and evolutionary phenomena in three core research areas at the interface of ecology and evolution. Research on the interactions between evolutionary and ecological dynamics has largely focused on local spatial scales and on relatively simple ecological communities. However, recent work demonstrates that dispersal can drastically alter the interplay between ecological and evolutionary dynamics, often in unexpected ways. We argue that a dispersal-centered synthesis of metacommunity ecology and evolution is necessary to make further progress in this important area of research. We demonstrate that such an approach generates several novel outcomes and substantially enhances understanding of both ecological and evolutionary phenomena in three core research areas at the interface of ecology and evolution. a set of local communities linked by the dispersal of multiple potentially interacting species in which genetically determined trait variation within species modifies the outcome of interspecific interactions. the movement of genes between populations that subsequently contributes to the future gene pool of the recipient population. the phenotypic deviation of a population or organism from its potential adaptive peak at a locality. the net emigration of individuals from a larger population into a smaller population in a way that influences the recipient community's dynamics. a set of local communities that are linked by the dispersal of multiple interacting species. local adaptation enhances the rapid monopolization of resources by the first colonizer to a vacant habitat which results in reduced success of future invasions of genotypes or species. species with identical demographic and evolutionary properties, such as birth, death and speciation rates. a process by which species come to inhabit the locations most suited to their specific suite of traits owing to colonization and extirpation dynamics across heterogeneous patches.
Publication Year: 2008
Publication Date: 2008-06-01
Language: en
Type: article
Indexed In: ['crossref', 'pubmed']
Access and Citation
Cited By Count: 287
AI Researcher Chatbot
Get quick answers to your questions about the article from our AI researcher chatbot