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How population size shapes the evolution of guppy fish

A long-term fish experiment reveals how a mechanism called density dependence, in which the population growth rate slows as the number of individuals rises, affects population dynamics on time scales relevant for ecology and evolution.
  1. Bernt-Erik Sæther

    1. Bernt-Erik Sæther is at the Gjærevoll Centre for Foresight Analyses of Biodiversity, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, N-7055 Trondheim, Norway.

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As populations grow, a decrease in their growth rate, occurring as a phenomenon referred to as density dependence, affects the dynamics of most species1. Writing in The American Naturalist, Travis et al.2 provide evidence from guppy fish (Poecilia reticulata) on the island of Trinidad that sheds light on the wide-ranging consequences of this type of scenario. The authors demonstrate that variation in population fluctuations can lead to the evolution of large differences in life-history strategies in different populations affecting the pattern of survival of juveniles or adults, the timing of sexual maturity and the numbers of offspring produced.

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Nature 626, 725-726 (2024)

doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-024-00276-5

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Competing Interests

The author declares no competing interests.

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