The evolution of population stability as a by-product of life-history evolution

Abstract

Proposed mechanisms for the evolution of population stability include group selection through longterm persistence, individual selection acting directly on stability determining the demographic parameters, and the evolution of stability as a by-product of life-history evolution. None of these hypotheses currently has clear empirical support. Using two sets of Drosophila melanogaster populations, we provide experimental evidence of stability evolving as a correlated response to selection on traits not directly related to demography. Four populations (FEJs) were selected for faster development and early reproduction for 125 generations, and the other four (JBs) were ancestral controls. All FEJ and JB populations have been maintained on discrete generations at moderate density, thus eliminating differential selection on stability determining demographic parameters. We derived eight small populations from each FEJ and JB population, and subjected four small populations each to either stabilizing or destabilizing food regimes. Census data on these 64 small populations over 20 generations clearly showed that the FEJ populations have significantly less temporal fluctuations in their numbers in both food regimes compared to their controls. This greater stability of the FEJ populations is probably a by-product of the evolution of reduced fecundity and pre-adult survivorship, as a correlated response to selection for rapid development.