Life histories are not just fast or slow

Trends in Ecology & Evolution, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 39(9), P. 830 - 840

Published: July 13, 2024

HighlightsLife history studies support the fast–slow continuum as dominant but not unique axis structuring life variation.Other important axes of variation associated with development and reproductive tactics exist, exploration further axes, clusters, boundaries is needed.Existing analyses are venturing far from theory could benefit a stronger focus on hypothesis testing rather than exploration.We make recommendations to identify through data choices analytical methods dimensionality reduction recourse comprehensive model history.AbstractLife strategies, which combine schedules survival, development, reproduction, shape how natural selection acts species' heritable traits organismal fitness. Comparative have historically ranked histories along continuum, describing negative association between time allocation reproduction versus survival. However, higher-quality, more representative revealed that cannot be fully accounted for by this single continuum. Moreover, often do test predictions existing theories instead operate exploratory exercises. To move forward, we offer three future investigations: standardizing traits, overcoming taxonomic siloes, using understanding across Tree Life.

Language: Английский

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Long-term studies provide unique insights into evolution

Nature, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 639(8055), P. 589 - 601

Published: March 19, 2025

Language: Английский

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Compromise or choose: shared movement decisions in wild vulturine guineafowl

Communications Biology, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 7(1)

Published: Jan. 13, 2024

Abstract Shared-decision making is beneficial for the maintenance of group-living. However, little known about whether consensus decision-making follows similar processes across different species. Addressing this question requires robust quantification how individuals move relative to each other. Here we use high-resolution GPS-tracking two vulturine guineafowl ( Acryllium vulturinum ) groups test predictions from a classic theoretical model collective motion. We show that, in both groups, all can successfully initiate directional movements, although males are more likely be followed than females. When multiple group members simultaneously, follower decisions depend on agreement, with followers compromising directions if difference between them small or choosing majority direction large. By aligning and replicating findings previous field study olive baboons Papio anubis ), our results suggest that common process governs moving animal groups.

Language: Английский

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Multi‐generational fitness legacies of natural immigration: theoretical and empirical perspectives and opportunities

Biological reviews/Biological reviews of the Cambridge Philosophical Society, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: Feb. 17, 2025

ABSTRACT Natural dispersal between populations, and resulting immigration, influences population size genetic variation is therefore a key process driving reciprocal interactions ecological evolutionary dynamics. Here, dynamic outcomes fundamentally depend not only on the relative fitnesses of natural immigrants existing residents, but also fitness their various descendants manifested in environments. Yet, different sets immigrants' have rarely been explicitly or rigorously estimated rationalised context wild spatially structured populations. We still surprisingly limited capability to understand predict ultimate multi‐generational impacts immigration Key theoretical frameworks that outcrossing lineages developed widely utilised contexts agriculture speciation research. These applied conservation genetics research positive (widely termed “heterosis”) negative “outbreeding depression”) rescue highly inbred However, these guide analyses legacies regular ecology, precluding inferences basis of, implications sub‐population divergence. Accordingly, facilitate translation concepts inspire new empirical efforts, we first review synthesise bodies theory outcomes, crosses lines species. Such reveals how diverse can be generated by common underlying mechanisms, depending architecture fitness, forms genotype–phenotype–fitness maps, roles adaptive non‐adaptive mechanisms differentiation. Interestingly, such predicts particularly weakly diverged lineages, constituting parameter space where populations lie. then conduct systematic literature assess degree which actually quantified. Our shows surprising paucity studies quantify consequences from wild. Furthermore, undertaking experimental among used inconsistent methodologies, quantitative even qualitative overall conclusions. To initiate progress, outline long‐standing recent methodological developments, including cutting‐edge statistical genomic tools, could combined with field data residents nature. thereby highlight gaps now need filled further our understanding dispersal‐mediated drivers constraints eco‐evolutionary dynamics arising

Language: Английский

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Fluctuating selection maintains distinct species phenotypes in an ecological community in the wild

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 120(42)

Published: Oct. 9, 2023

Species’ phenotypic characteristics often remain unchanged over long stretches of geological time. Stabilizing selection—in which fitness is highest for intermediate phenotypes and lowest the extremes—has been widely invoked as responsible this pattern. At community level, such stabilizing selection acting individually on co-occurring species expected to produce a rugged landscape different occupy distinct peaks. However, even with an explosion microevolutionary field studies past four decades, evidence persistent driving long-term stasis lacking. Nonetheless, biologists continue invoke major factor explaining macroevolutionary patterns. Here, by directly measuring natural in wild, we identified complex community-wide surface Anolis lizard each peak close their mean phenotype. The presence local optima within species, valleys between presents barrier adaptive evolutionary change acts maintain differences through instead continuously operating selection, found that were maintained these peaks combination many independent periods among fluctuated form, strength, direction, or existence rarely occurred. Our results suggest lack substantial time may be result but not classically envisioned.

Language: Английский

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Social and early life determinants of survival from cradle to grave: A case study in wild baboons

Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 152, P. 105282 - 105282

Published: June 15, 2023

Language: Английский

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Using Computational Simulations to Model Deleterious Variation and Genetic Load in Natural Populations

The American Naturalist, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 202(6), P. 737 - 752

Published: July 17, 2023

AbstractDeleterious genetic variation is abundant in wild populations, and understanding the ecological conservation implications of such an area active research. Genomic methods are increasingly used to quantify impacts deleterious natural populations; however, these approaches remain limited by inability accurately predict selective dominance effects mutations. Computational simulations offer a complementary tool that can help overcome limitations, although have yet be widely employed. In this perspective article, we aim encourage genomics researchers adopt greater use computational aid deepening our populations. We first provide overview components simulation variation, describing key parameters involved models. Next, discuss several for validating Finally, compare validate recently proposed mutation models, demonstrating models based on estimates selection from experimental systems biased toward highly describe new model supported multiple orthogonal lines evidence example scripts implementing (https://github.com/ckyriazis/simulations_review).

Language: Английский

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Automated face recognition using deep neural networks produces robust primate social networks and sociality measures

Methods in Ecology and Evolution, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 14(8), P. 1937 - 1951

Published: July 24, 2023

Abstract Longitudinal video archives of behaviour are crucial for examining how sociality shifts over the lifespan in wild animals. New approaches adopting computer vision technology hold serious potential to capture interactions and associations between individuals at large scale; however, such need a priori validation, as methods sampling defining edges social networks can substantially impact results. Here, we apply deep learning face recognition model generate association chimpanzees using 17 years archive from Bossou, Guinea. Using 7 million detections 100 h footage, examined varying size fixed temporal windows (i.e. aggregation rates) individual‐level gregariousness scores. The highest lowest rates produced divergent values, indicating that different patterns. To avoid any bias false positives negatives automated detection, an intermediate rate should be used reduce error across multiple variables. Individual‐level network‐derived traits were highly repeatable, strong inter‐individual variation patterns highlighting reliability method consistent time. We found no reliable effects age sex on despite significant drop population study period, individual estimates remained stable believe our framework will broad utility ethology conservation, enabling investigation animal footage scale, low cost high reproducibility. explore implications findings understanding ape populations. Furthermore, examine trade‐offs involved measures. Finally, outline steps broader deployment this analysis large‐scale datasets ecology evolution.

Language: Английский

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The causes and implications of sex role diversity in shorebird breeding systems

Ibis, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 166(2), P. 357 - 385

Published: Oct. 11, 2023

Males and females often exhibit different behaviours during mate acquisition, pair‐bonding parenting, a convenient label to characterize these is sex role. The diverse roles that male female shorebirds (plovers, sandpipers allies) in mating parenting have played key role advancing mainstream theories avian ecology behavioural biology including sexual selection, conflict parental cooperation. Recent advances shorebird research also highlighted the significance of social environment driving by linking adult ratio with breeding behaviour population demography. Here we review using as an ecological model system. We identify knowledge gaps argue untapped potential accelerate fields evolutionary genomics, movement ecology, networks environmental changes. Future studies will benefit from individual‐based monitoring advanced tracking technologies, multi‐team collaborations are facilitated standardized data collection methodologies across species field. These not only contribute our understanding reproductive strategies, but they knock‐on effects on predicting resilience changes prioritizing for conservation.

Language: Английский

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Testing the information centre hypothesis in a multilevel society

Journal of Animal Ecology, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 93(8), P. 1147 - 1159

Published: July 3, 2024

Abstract In various animal species conspecifics aggregate at sleeping sites. Such aggregations can act as information centres where individuals acquire up‐to‐date knowledge about their environment. some species, communal sites comprise from multiple groups, each group maintains stable membership over time. We used GPS tracking to simultaneously record movement in a population of wild vulturine guineafowl ( Acryllium vulturinum ) investigate whether facilitate the transfer among across distinct groups. These birds live large and groups that move both together apart, often forming roosts containing up five first test provide opportunity for members other by examining spatial organization roosts. The data reveal intermix, thereby providing an out‐group information. next conduct field experiment naïve locate novel food patches when co‐roosting with knowledgeable find substantially increases chances discover patch known shared roost. Further, we discovery subsequently shapes space use inter‐group associations. also draw on our long‐term examples demonstrate natural cases roosting has preceded large‐scale multi‐group collective movements extend into areas beyond groups' normal ranges. Our findings support extension centre hypothesis consist social

Language: Английский

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