The relative contribution of individual and kin selection to the evolution of density-dependent dispersal rates

Authored by Hans Joachim Poethke, Thomas Hovestadt, Brenda Pfenning

Date Published: 2007

Sponsors: European Union German Research Foundation (Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, DFG)

Platforms: No platforms listed

Model Documentation: Other Narrative Mathematical description

Model Code URLs: Model code not found

Abstract

Questions: What are the relative contributions of kin selection and individual selection to the evolution of dispersal rates in fragmented landscapes? How do environmental parameters influence the relative contributions of both evolutionary forces? Features of the model: Individual-based simulation model of a metapopulation. Logistic local growth dynamics and density-dependent dispersal. An optional shuffling algorithm allows the continuous destruction of any genetic structure in the metapopulation. Ranges of key variables: Depending on dispersal mortality (0.05-0.4) and the strength of environmental fluctuations, mean dispersal probability varied between 0.05 and 0.5. Conclusions: For local population sizes of 100 individuals, kin selection alone could account for dispersal probabilities of up to 0.1. It may result in a ten-fold increase of optimal dispersal rates compared with those predicted on the basis of individual selection alone. Such a substantial contribution of kin selection to dispersal is restricted to cases where the overall dispersal probabilities are small (< 0.1). In the latter case, as much as 30\% of the total fitness of dispersing individuals could arise from the increased reproduction of kin left in the natal patch.

Tags

Migration Dynamics Metapopulation population Model Strategies Synchrony Genetics Local extinction Environmental correlation