Multi-scale effects of habitat loss and the role of trait evolution.

ABSTRACT: Habitat loss (HL) is a major cause of species extinctions. Although the effects of HL beyond the directly impacted area have been previously observed, they have not been modelled explicitly, especially in an eco-evolutionary context. To start filling this gap, we study a two-patch deterministic consumer-resource model, with one of the patches experiencing loss of resources as a special case of HL. Our model allows foraging and mating within a patch as well as between patches. We then introduce heritable variation in consumer traits related to resource utilization and patch use to investigate eco-evolutionary dynamics and compare results with constant and no trait variation scenarios. Our results show that HL in one patch can indeed reduce consumer densities in the neighbouring patch but ca

SUBMITTER: Bagawade R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10766568 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature