Abstract
The interplay of ecology and evolution has been a rich area of research for decades. A surge of interest in this area was catalyzed by the observation that evolution by natural selection can operate at the same contemporary timescales as ecological dynamics. Specifically, recent eco-evolutionary research focuses on how rapid adaptation influences ecology, and vice versa. Evolution by non-adaptive forces also occurs quickly, with ecological consequences, but understanding the full scope of ecology–evolution (eco–evo) interactions requires explicitly addressing population-level processes – genetic and demographic. We show the strong ecological effects of non-adaptive evolutionary forces and, more broadly, the value of population-level research for gaining a mechanistic understanding of eco–evo interactions. The breadth of eco-evolutionary research should expand to incorporate the breadth of evolution itself.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 141-152 |
Number of pages | 12 |
Journal | Trends in Ecology and Evolution |
Volume | 32 |
Issue number | 2 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Feb 1 2017 |
Keywords
- demography
- density dependence
- dispersal
- genetic drift
- genetics
- natural selection