17 octubre, 2023

Life-history theory

Essense: analytical evolutionary framework to study diversity of life history strategies, as well as the causes and results of the variation.

Life-history traits:
- size at birth - growth pattern
- age and size at maturity
- number, size, and sex ratio of offspring
- age- and size-specific reproductive investments
- age- and size-specific mortality schedules
- length of life

Darwinian demon


DEF: a hypothetical organism, that would result if there were no biological constraints on evolution. If existed, would reproduce directly after being born, produce infinitely many offspring, and live indefinitely. Used in thought experiments.


Does not exist because of trade-offs!

Trade-offs between life traits

Dobson FS (2007) A lifestyle view of life-history evolution. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 104:17565–17566

Trade-off causality

Kozłowski J, Weiner J (1997) Interspecific allometries are by-products of body size optimization. Am Nat 149:352–380

Trade-offs - nature evidence

De Roos AM, Boukal DS, Persson L (2006) Evolutionary regime shifts in age and size at maturation of exploited fish stocks. Proc R Soc B Biol Sci 273:1873–1880

A rule

df(W) - increase of production rate
d(W) - production rate
m - mortality

From an evolutionary perspective,
an organisms should invest in growth as long as:

df(W)/dW > m

If the condition is not met any more, it should start to reproduce.

References

  • Conner JK (2002) Trade-Offs in Evolutionary Ecology. Ecology 83:2356–2357. doi: 10.1890/0012-9658(2002)083[2356:toiee]2.0.co;2
  • De Roos AM, Boukal DS, Persson L (2006) Evolutionary regime shifts in age and size at maturation of exploited fish stocks. Proc R Soc B Biol Sci 273:1873–1880. doi: 10.1098/rspb.2006.3518
  • Dobson FS (2007) A lifestyle view of life-history evolution. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 104:17565–17566. doi: 10.1073/pnas.0708868104
  • Kozłowski J, Weiner J (1997) Interspecific allometries are by-products of body size optimization. Am Nat 149:352–380