Evolution of dispersal distance: maternal investment leads to bimodal dispersal kernels.

Fronhofer EA; Joachim Poethke H; Dieckmann U

doi:10.1016/j.jtbi.2014.10.024

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Journal article

Evolution of dispersal distance: maternal investment leads to bimodal dispersal kernels.

Fronhofer EA Eawag: Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, Department of Aquatic Ecology, Überlandstrasse 133, CH-8600 Dübendorf, Switzerland; Field Station Fabrikschleichach, University of Würzburg, Glashüttenstr. 5, D-96181 Rauhenebrach, Germany. Electronic address: emanuel.fronhofer@eawag.ch.
Joachim Poethke H Field Station Fabrikschleichach, University of Würzburg, Glashüttenstr. 5, D-96181 Rauhenebrach, Germany.
Dieckmann U Evolution and Ecology Program, International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis, Schlossplatz 1, A-2361 Laxenburg, Austria.

2014-12-03

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Journal of theoretical biology. - 2015

Distance-dependent dispersal costs

English Since dispersal research has mainly focused on the evolutionary dynamics of dispersal rates, it remains unclear what shape evolutionarily stable dispersal kernels have. Yet, detailed knowledge about dispersal kernels, quantifying the statistical distribution of dispersal distances, is of pivotal importance for understanding biogeographic diversity, predicting species invasions, and explaining range shifts. We therefore examine the evolution of dispersal kernels in an individual-based model of a population of sessile organisms, such as trees or corals. Specifically, we analyze the influence of three potentially important factors on the shape of dispersal kernels: distance-dependent competition, distance-dependent dispersal costs, and maternal investment reducing an offspring׳s dispersal costs through a trade-off with maternal fecundity. We find that without maternal investment, competition and dispersal costs lead to unimodal kernels, with increasing dispersal costs reducing the kernel׳s width and tail weight. Unexpectedly, maternal investment inverts this effect: kernels become bimodal at high dispersal costs. This increases a kernel׳s width and tail weight, and thus the fraction of long-distance dispersers, at the expense of simultaneously increasing the fraction of non-dispersers. We demonstrate the qualitative robustness of our results against variations in the tested parameter combinations.

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