Postdoctoral Fellow
In nature, dispersal is common, but also risky. Dispersal, or movement among suitable habitats, can have a variety of benefits, but it can also have a lot of costs. Biologists have recognized for a long time that understanding the ups and downs of dispersal is very complicated. Namely, the benefits of dispersal can be particularly complex. One benefit is that dispersal can reduce mating with relatives. Mating with relatives, or inbreeding, can result in decreased fitness in the offspring (inbreeding depression). In my research at NESCent, I am using existing data on dispersal in both plants and animals to examine the role that inbreeding avoidance plays in the evolution of dispersal.
Evaluating the effects of inbreeding on dispersal
| PI(s): | Josh R Auld |
| Start Date: | 1-Oct-2009 |
| End Date: | 30-Jul-2011 |
| Keywords: | dispersal, inbreeding, life histories, mating systems, evolutionary genetics |
In nature, dispersal is common, but also risky. Dispersal, or movement among suitable habitats, can have a variety of benefits, but it can also have a lot of costs. Biologists have recognized for a long time that understanding the ups and downs of dispersal is very complicated. Namely, the benefits of dispersal can be particularly complex. One benefit is that dispersal can reduce mating with relatives. Mating with relatives, or inbreeding, can result in decreased fitness in the offspring (inbreeding depression). In my research at NESCent, I am using existing data on dispersal in both plants and animals to examine the role that inbreeding avoidance plays in the evolution of dispersal. Related products
Publications- Life history of breeding partners alters age-related changes of reproductive traits in a natural population of blue tits. Auld, J.R. & A. Charmantier. 2011. Life history of breeding partners alters age-related changes of reproductive traits in a natural population of blue tits. Oikos _:_-_.
- Patterns of mating system evolution in hermaphroditic animals: correlations among selfing rate, inbreeding depression, and the timing of reproduction. Escobar, J.S., J.R. Auld, A.C. Correa, J.M. Alonso, Y.K. Bony, J.M. Koene, J.-P. Pointier, P. Jarne & P. David. Patterns of mating system evolution in hermaphroditic animals: correlations among selfing rate, inbreeding depression, and the timing of reproduction. Evolution.
- Adaptive plasticity in predator-induced defenses in a common freshwater snail: altered selection and mode of predation due to prey phenotype Auld, J. R. and R. A. Relyea (2010). Adaptive plasticity in predator-induced defenses in a common freshwater snail: altered selection and mode of predation due to prey phenotype. Evolutionary Ecology.
- Bateman gradients in hermaphrodites: An extended approach to quantify sexual selection. Anthes, N., David, P., Auld, J.R., Hoffer, J.N.A., Jarne, P., Koene, J.M., Kokko, H., Lorenzi, M.C., Pelissie, B., Sprenger, D., Staikou, A., and Scharer, L. (2010), Bateman gradients in hermaphrodites: An extended approach to quantify sexual selection. American Naturalist, 146: 249-263.
- The effects of predation risk on mating system expression in a freshwater snail Auld, J. R. (2010). The effects of predation risk on mating system expression in a freshwater snail. Evolution.
- Inbreeding depression in adaptive plasticity under predation risk in a freshwater snail Auld, J. R. and R. A. Relyea (2010). Inbreeding depression in adaptive plasticity under predation risk in a freshwater snail. Biology Letters 6: 222-224.
- Life-history plasticity and inbreeding depression under mate limitation and predation risk: cumulative lifetime fitness dissected with a life table response experiment Auld, J. R. and R. A. Relyea (2010). Life-history plasticity and inbreeding depression under mate limitation and predation risk: cumulative lifetime fitness dissected with a life table response experiment. Evolutionary Ecology 24(5): 1171-1185.
- J. R. Auld, A. A. Agrawal and R. A. Relyea 2009 Re-evaluating the costs and limits of adaptive phenotypic plasticity, Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, volume 277, issue 1681, pp. 503-511
- 2011. How male birds affect female fertility. MSNBC.
- 2011. Biological clock ticks slower for female birds who choose good mates. Eurekalert.
- Parry, W. 2010. Fearful snail becomes better breeder. LiveScience.
- 2010. Scared snails opt for single parenthood rather than wait for a mate. USA Today.
- 2010. Scared snails opt for single parenthood rather than wait for a mate. Dallas Morning News.
- Smith, R. 2010. Scared snails opt for single parenthood rather than wait for a mate. Eurekalert.
