Can possible evolutionary outcomes be determined directly from the population dynamics?

Citation

Hoyle A & Bowers R (2008) Can possible evolutionary outcomes be determined directly from the population dynamics?. Theoretical Population Biology, 74 (4), pp. 311-323. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tpb.2008.09.002

Abstract
Traditionally, to determine the possible evolutionary behaviour of an ecological system using adaptive dynamics, it is necessary to calculate the fitness and its derivatives at a singular point. We investigate the claim that the possible evolutionary behaviour can be predicted directly from the population dynamics, without the need for calculation, by applying three criteria - one based on the form of the density dependent rates and two on the role played by the evolving parameters. Taking a general continuous time model, with broad ecological range, we show that the claim is true. Initially, we assume that individuals enter in class 1 and move through population classes sequentially; later we relax these assumptions and find that the criteria still apply. However, when we consider models where the evolving parameters appear non-linearly in the dynamics, we find some aspects of the criteria fail; useful but weaker results on possible evolutionary behaviour now apply.

Keywords
Adaptive dynamics; trade-off and invasion plot; TIPs; trade-off; invasion boundaries; evolutionary branching;

Journal
Theoretical Population Biology: Volume 74, Issue 4

People

Dr Andrew Hoyle

Senior Lecturer, Mathematics