Open AccessDynamics of Adaptation in Spatially Heterogeneous Metapopulations
Author(s) -
Julien Papaïx,
Olivier David,
Christian Lannou,
Hervé Monod
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
plos one
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.99
H-Index - 332
ISSN - 1932-6203
DOI - 10.1371/journal.pone.0054697
Subject(s) - metapopulation , biological dispersal , adaptation (eye) , spatial heterogeneity , ecology , habitat , biology , spatial ecology , population , niche , local adaptation , evolutionary dynamics , range (aeronautics) , evolutionary biology , selection (genetic algorithm) , computer science , materials science , demography , neuroscience , artificial intelligence , sociology , composite material
The selection pressure experienced by organisms often varies across the species range. It is hence crucial to characterise the link between environmental spatial heterogeneity and the adaptive dynamics of species or populations. We address this issue by studying the phenotypic evolution of a spatial metapopulation using an adaptive dynamics approach. The singular strategy is found to be the mean of the optimal phenotypes in each habitat with larger weights for habitats present in large and well connected patches. The presence of spatial clusters of habitats in the metapopulation is found to facilitate specialisation and to increase both the level of adaptation and the evolutionary speed of the population when dispersal is limited. By showing that spatial structures are crucial in determining the specialisation level and the evolutionary speed of a population, our results give insight into the influence of spatial heterogeneity on the niche breadth of species.