Eco-evolutionary dynamics of a population with randomly switching carrying capacity.

ABSTRACT: Environmental variability greatly influences the eco-evolutionary dynamics of a population, i.e. it affects how its size and composition evolve. Here, we study a well-mixed population of finite and fluctuating size whose growth is limited by a randomly switching carrying capacity. This models the environmental fluctuations between states of resources abundance and scarcity. The population consists of two strains, one growing slightly faster than the other, competing under two scenarios: one in which competition is solely for resources, and one in which the slow (cooperating) strain produces a public good (PG) that benefits also the fast (free-riding) strain. We investigate how the coupling of demographic and environmental (external) noise affects the population's eco-evolutionary dynamics.

SUBMITTER: Wienand K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6127162 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature