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Experimental evolution of dispersal: Unifying theory, experiments and natural systems


Abstract Dispersal is a central life history trait that affects the ecological and evolutionary dynamics of populations and communities. The recent use of experimental evolution for the study of dispersal is a promising avenue for demonstrating valuable proofs of concept, bringing insight into alternative dispersal strategies and trade‐offs, and testing the repeatability of evolutionary outcomes. Practical constraints restrict experimental evolution studies of dispersal to a set of typically small, short‐lived organisms reared in artificial laboratory conditions. Here, we argue that despite these restrictions, inferences from these studies can reinforce links between theoretical predictions and empirical observations and advance our understanding of the eco‐evolutionary consequences of dispersal. We illustrate how applying an integrative framework of theory, experimental evolution and natural systems can improve our understanding of dispersal evolution under more complex and realistic biological scenarios, such as the role of biotic interactions and complex dispersal syndromes.
Authors Nicky Lustenhouwer ORCID , Felix Moerman ORCID , Florian Altermatt ORCID , Ronald D. Bassar ORCID , Greta Bocedi ORCID , Dries Bonte ORCID , Sutirth Dey ORCID , Emanuel A. Fronhofer ORCID , Érika Garcez da Rocha ORCID , Andrea Giometto ORCID , Lesley T. Lancaster ORCID , Robert B. Prather , Marjo Saastamoinen ORCID , Justin M. J. Travis ORCID , Carla A. Urquhart , Christopher Weiss‐Lehman University of WyomingORCID , Jennifer L. Williams ORCID , Luca Börger ORCID , David Berger ORCID
Journal Info Wiley-Blackwell | Journal of Animal Ecology , vol: 92 , iss: 6 , pages: 1113 - 1123
Publication Date 4/23/2023
ISSN 0021-8790
TypeKeyword Image article
Open Access hybrid Hybrid Access
DOI https://doi.org/10.1111/1365-2656.13930
KeywordsKeyword Image Experimental Evolution (Score: 0.589665) , Evolution (Score: 0.57802) , Habitat Fragmentation (Score: 0.526077) , Community Ecology (Score: 0.500221)