Aim Globally, the geographical distributions of species are dynamic and strongly influenced by dispersal. At the same time, range dynamics feed back and may select for increased dispersal at expanding range fronts. This interplay between macroecological and evolutionary dynamics happens almost universally across environmental gradients and such gradients can have a direct impact on the fitness of organisms due to the match or mismatch between an individual's environmental optimum and the current conditions along the gradient. Importantly, gradients also provide individuals with information on environmental changes because dispersing individuals may sense whether environmental conditions improve or deteriorate. However, the ability of organisms to use this information on the environment and to subsequently adjust dispersal decisions plastically, that is, deciding to further disperse into the gradient or not, has been largely ignored and the macroecological consequences remain unclear. We here aim to demonstrate the impact of informed dispersal on the eco‐evolutionary dynamics of ranges. Location Laboratory and theoretical. Methods We used individual‐based simulations and controlled experiments in replicated microcosm landscapes. Range expansions of the protist model organism Tetrahymena were tracked using video recording and analysis. Results We show that information on environmental gradients had a severe impact on range dynamics and inverted the spatial distribution of population densities in comparison with controls where this information was not provided. Additionally, the use of information on gradients prevented evolutionary changes in dispersal rates and an acceleration of range expansion. Main conclusions We demonstrate the strong impact of informed dispersal and subsequent behavioural changes on range dynamics in environmental gradients. More generally, our findings highlight the importance of informed dispersal for spatial ecological and evolutionary dynamics.
Globally, geographic distributions of species are dynamic and strongly influenced by dispersal. Vice versa, range dynamics feed back and may select for increased dispersal. This interplay almost universally happens across environmental gradients which can directly impact the fitness of organisms, but also provide individuals with information on the environmental changes. However, the organisms' ability to subsequently adjust dispersal decisions plastically has been largely ignored and the (macro)ecological consequences remain unclear. Using modeling and controlled experiments in replicated microcosm landscapes, we show that information on environmental gradients severely impacted range dynamics and inverted the spatial distribution of population densities in comparison to controls where this information was not provided. Additionally, information use prevented evolutionary changes in dispersal and an acceleration of range expansions. We demonstrate the strong impact of informed dispersal and subsequent behavioral changes on range dynamics in environmental gradients and spatial dynamics in general.
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