Eco-evolutionary dynamics

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Darwin suggested that evolution proceeds very slowly, and this view was almost universally accepted for more than a century. Recently, however, a dramatic shift has taken place toward an acceptance that environmental changes often drive "contemporary" (or "rapid") evolution. With this acceptance has come the need to investigate consequences for the dynamics of populations, communities, and ecosystems. This is the rapidly developing integrated research field of "eco-evolutionary dynamics." Most of my research has thus far focused on one direction of causality in these dynamics - how ecological change influences evolution (eco-to-evo). I have also started to explore the reciprocal arrow of causality: how evolutionary change influences ecology (evo-to-eco). Over the next five years, my research will seek to advance an joint understanding of both causal pathways, and their interactions, through research on three model systems: stickleback in British Columbia, guppies in Trinidad, and finches in Galapagos. NSERC funds will be used for experiments and monitoring to address two critical topics: (1) the IMPORTANCE of evolution in shaping ecological processes, and (2) FEEDBACKS between evolutionary and ecological processes. The research will quantify evolutionary effects in different contexts (e.g., species and locations) and in relation to other potential drivers (e.g., density and rainfall). It will also inform whether feedbacks are likely to cause particularly rapid and dramatic changes (positive feedbacks) or to stabilize the system (negative feedbacks). Findings emerging from these new evo-to-eco studies will be integrated with previous and ongoing eco-to-evo studies so as to advance an integrated understanding of eco-evolutionary dynamics. By delineating the effects of evolution on ecological dynamics, this research thus has the potential to profoundly impact approaches to basic and applied problems in conservation biology, environmental science, medicine, agriculture, and natural resource management. At the same time, it will train dozens of HQP in the methods and approaches necessary for an eco-evolutionary approach to problem solving.