The ability of individuals to assess population density influences the evolution of emigration propensity and dispersal distance |
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Authors: | Poethke Hans Joachim Gros Andreas Hovestadt Thomas |
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Institution: | a University of Würzburg, Field Station Fabrikschleichach, Glashüttenstrasse 5, 96181 Rauhenebrach, Germany b New England Complex Systems Institute, 238 Main Street, Suite 319, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA c Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, CNRS UMR 7179, 1 Avenue du Petit Château, 91800 Brunoy, France |
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Abstract: | We analyze the simultaneous evolution of emigration and settlement decisions for actively dispersing species differing in their ability to assess population density. Using an individual-based model we simulate dispersal as a multi-step (patch to patch) movement in a world consisting of habitat patches surrounded by a hostile matrix. Each such step is associated with the same mortality risk. Our simulations show that individuals following an informed strategy, where emigration (and settlement) probability depends on local population density, evolve a lower (natal) emigration propensity but disperse over significantly larger distances - i.e. postpone settlement longer - than individuals performing density-independent emigration. This holds especially when variation in environmental conditions is spatially correlated. Both effects can be traced to the informed individuals' ability to better exploit existing heterogeneity in reproductive chances. Yet, already moderate distance-dependent dispersal costs prevent the evolution of multi-step (long-distance) dispersal, irrespective of the dispersal strategy. |
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Keywords: | Density dependent Kin-competition Distance-dependent dispersal cost Metapopulation Individual-based model |
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