É. Kisdi &
G. Meszéna (1993):
Density
dependent life history evolution in fluctuating environments
In:
"Adaptation in a stochastic environment", eds. C.W. Clark & J.
Yoshimura, Lecture Notes in Biomathematics, vol. 98, pp. 26-62, Springer
Verlag, Berlin
Environmental fluctuation may not only alter the life history
optimization problem but also query optimization itself. Under density
regulation annual growth rate is influenced by the direct effect of fluctuation
as well as by an indirect effect due to fluctuating population density. For a
weak fluctuation there is an optimal strategy which is slightly different from
the stable environment optimum, since (a) it should adapt to an average density
altered by fluctuation, (b) it should diminish the fluctuation in annual growth
rate caused by direct and indirect effect of environmental fluctuation, and (c)
it should exploit an increase, but avoid a decrease in average annual growth
rate caused by fluctuation. The "optimal" strategy becomes meaningless
if the fluctuation is strong, because long run growth rates are not independent
of the established population. Coexistence (or exclusion of the rare strategy)
may be mediated by a sufficiently strong fluctuation, which is illustrated by a
simple model elucidating the connection with resource-competition models.
Moreover, some other consequences of strong fluctuation are demonstrated by the
example of a lottery model, such as multiple ESS, ESS which cannot invade an
established population, and historical events which determine the outcome of
the evolution.