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Beyond adaptation: Incorporating other evolutionary processes and concepts into eco-evolutionary dynamics
  • Masato Yamamichi,
  • Stephen Ellner,
  • Nelson Hairston
Masato Yamamichi
The University of Queensland

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

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Stephen Ellner
Cornell University
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Nelson Hairston
Cornell University
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Abstract

Studies of eco-evolutionary dynamics have integrated evolution with ecological processes at multiple scales (populations, communities, and ecosystems) and with multiple interspecific interactions (antagonistic, mutualistic, and competitive). However, evolution has often been conceptualized as a single process: short-term adaptive genetic change driven by natural selection. Here we argue that other diverse evolutionary processes should also be considered, to explore the full spectrum of feedbacks between ecological and evolutionary processes. Relevant but underappreciated processes include (1) drift and mutation, (2) disruptive selection causing lineage diversification or speciation reversal, (3) evolution driven by relative fitness differences that may decrease population growth, and (4) topics including multilevel selection, sexual selection and conflict, hard and soft selection, and genetic/genomic architectures/signatures. Because natural selection is not the sole mechanism of rapid evolution, it will be important to integrate a variety of concepts in evolutionary biology and ecology to better understand and predict eco-evolutionary dynamics in nature.
26 Sep 2022Submitted to Ecology Letters
28 Sep 2022Submission Checks Completed
28 Sep 2022Assigned to Editor
11 Oct 2022Reviewer(s) Assigned
11 Nov 2022Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
17 Nov 2022Editorial Decision: Revise Major
18 Jan 2023Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
18 Jan 20231st Revision Received
19 Jan 2023Submission Checks Completed
19 Jan 2023Assigned to Editor
20 Jan 2023Reviewer(s) Assigned
20 Feb 2023Editorial Decision: Accept