The role of group selection in plant population dynamics: competitive ability and fitness components of kin groups

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Competition from weeds remains a constant threat to agro-ecosystem productivity. The ability of weeds to invade, dominate, and persist in agricultural lands results in more money being spent on managing weeds than any other pest. Understanding why weeds occur where they do, or do not, is critical to both predicting their spatial dynamics and to determining how habitat patchiness influences their distribution and abundance. To do this, we must develop a greater understanding of the ecological and evolutionary processes that govern weed population dynamics and thus, weed species distributions. Group selection theory contends that alleles can spread in a population because of the benefits they bestow on groups of organisms. That weeds operate in groups is obvious; weeds are distinctly heterogeneous in their distribution across the landscape and because of this, group selection may be a powerful evolutionary force in weed populations. The purpose of this research program is to work to gain a better understanding of group selection and the role it may play in weed population dynamics and ultimately, the spatial distribution of weed populations. If we can understand the driving forces in weed population dynamics, we will be better equipped to predict their spatial distribution, which will ultimately improve our ability to limit their success. This is important not just for maintaining crop yields and profits in agriculture, but also for reducing the impact of invasive weeds on the conservation and restoration of natural and semi-natural habitats.