scholarly journals Multi-morph eco-evolutionary dynamics in structured populations

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sébastien Lion ◽  
Mike Boots ◽  
Akira Sasaki
Keyword(s):  
Evolutionary Dynamics ◽  
Adaptive Dynamics ◽  
Structured Populations ◽  
Ecological Feedbacks ◽  
Future Work ◽  
Practical Implications ◽  
Density Dependent Selection ◽  
Mutational Variance ◽  
Dynamics Of Populations ◽  
Adaptation Model

Our understanding of the evolution of quantitative traits in nature is still limited by the challenge of including realistic trait distributions in the context of frequency-dependent selection and ecological feedbacks. We develop a theoretical framework to analyse the dynamics of populations composed of several morphs and structured into distinct classes (e.g. age, size, habitats, infection status, species...). Our approach extends to class-structured populations a recently introduced "oligomorphic approximation" which bridges the gap between adaptive dynamics and quantitative genetics approaches and allows for the joint description of the dynamics of ecological variables and of the moments of multimodal trait distributions. We also introduce a new approximation to simplify the eco-evolutionary dynamics using reproductive values. This effectively extends Lande's univariate theorem not only to frequency- and density-dependent selection but also to multimodal trait distributions. We illustrate the effectiveness of this approach by applying it to the important conceptual case of two-habitat migration-selection models. In particular, we use our approach to predict the equilibrium trait distributions in a local adaptation model with asymmetric migration and habitat-specific mutational variance. We discuss the theoretical and practical implications of our results and sketch perspectives for future work.

scholarly journals The role of ecological feedbacks in the evolution of host defence: what does theory tell us?

2008 ◽  
Vol 364 (1513) ◽  
pp. 27-36 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael Boots ◽  
Alex Best ◽  
Martin R Miller ◽  
Andrew White
Keyword(s):  
Evolutionary Dynamics ◽  
Adaptive Dynamics ◽  
Theoretical Models ◽  
Host Defence ◽  
Diverse Range ◽  
Theoretical Approaches ◽  
Game Theoretical Approach ◽  
Ecological Feedbacks ◽  
Host Parasite

Hosts have evolved a diverse range of defence mechanisms in response to challenge by infectious organisms (parasites and pathogens). Whether defence is through avoidance of infection, control of the growth of the parasite once infected, clearance of the infection, tolerance to the disease caused by infection or innate and/or acquired immunity, it will have important implications for the population ecology (epidemiology) of the host–parasite interaction. As a consequence, it is important to understand the evolutionary dynamics of defence in the light of the ecological feedbacks that are intrinsic to the interaction. Here, we review the theoretical models that examine how these feedbacks influence the nature and extent of the defence that will evolve. We begin by briefly comparing different evolutionary modelling approaches and discuss in detail the modern game theoretical approach (adaptive dynamics) that allows ecological feedbacks to be taken into account. Next, we discuss a number of models of host defence in detail and, in particular, make a distinction between ‘resistance’ and ‘tolerance’. Finally, we discuss coevolutionary models and the potential use of models that include genetic and game theoretical approaches. Our aim is to review theoretical approaches that investigate the evolution of defence and to explain how the type of defence and the costs associated with its acquisition are important in determining the level of defence that evolves.

scholarly journals Bifurcation theory, adaptive dynamics and dynamic energy budget-structured populations of iteroparous species

2010 ◽  
Vol 365 (1557) ◽  
pp. 3579-3590 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. W. Kooi ◽  
J. van der Meer
Keyword(s):  
Energy Budget ◽  
Evolutionary Dynamics ◽  
Adaptive Dynamics ◽  
Structured Populations ◽  
Food Storage ◽  
Evolutionary Development ◽  
Life Stages ◽  
Dynamic Energy Budget ◽  
Iteroparous Species ◽  
Timing Of Spawning

In this paper, we describe a technique to evaluate the evolutionary dynamics of the timing of spawning for iteroparous species. The life cycle of the species consists of three life stages, embryonic, juvenile and adult whereby the transitions of life stages (gametogenesis, birth and maturation) occur at species-specific sizes. The dynamics of the population is studied in a semi-chemostat environment where the inflowing food concentration is periodic (annual). A dynamic energy budget-based continuous-time model is used to describe the uptake of the food, storage in reserves and allocation of the energy to growth, maintenance, development (embryos, juveniles) and reproduction (adults). A discrete-event process is used for modelling reproduction. At a fixed spawning date of the year, the reproduction buffer is emptied and a new cohort is formed by eggs with a fixed size and energy content. The population consists of cohorts: for each year one consisting of individuals with the same age which die after their last reproduction event. The resulting mathematical model is a finite-dimensional set of ordinary differential equations with fixed 1-year periodic boundary conditions yielding a stroboscopic map. We will study the evolutionary development of the population using the adaptive dynamics approach. The trait is the timing of spawning. Pairwise and mutual invasibility plots are calculated using bifurcation analysis of the stroboscopic map. The evolutionary singular strategy value belonging to the evolutionary endpoint for the trait allows for an interpretation of the reproduction strategy of the population. In a case study, parameter values from the literature for the bivalve Macoma balthica are used.

scholarly journals A general theoretical framework for trait-based eco-evolutionary dynamics: population structure, intraspecific variation, and community assembly

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jonas Wickman ◽  
Thomas Koffel ◽  
Christopher A Klausmeier
Keyword(s):  
Population Structure ◽  
Intraspecific Variation ◽  
Functional Traits ◽  
Community Assembly ◽  
Evolutionary Dynamics ◽  
Resource Competition ◽  
Adaptive Dynamics ◽  
Theoretical Framework ◽  
Community Change ◽  
Structured Populations

To understand how functional traits shape ecological communities it is necessary to understand both how traits across the community affect its functioning and how eco-evolutionary dynamics within the community change the traits over time. Of particular interest are so-called evolutionarily stable communities (ESCs), since these are the end points of eco-evolutionary dynamics and can persist over long time scales. One theoretical framework that has successfully been used for assembling ESCs is adaptive dynamics. However, this framework cannot account for intraspecific variation---neither locally nor across structured populations. On the other hand, in moment-based approaches, intraspecific variation is accommodated, but community assembly has been neglected. This is unfortunate as some questions regarding for example local adaptation vis-a-vis diversification into multiple species requires both facets. In this paper we develop a general theoretical framework that bridges the gap between these two approaches. We showcase how ESCs can be assembled using the framework, and illustrate various aspects of the framework using two simple models of resource competition. We believe this unifying framework could be of great use to address questions regarding the role of functional traits in communities where population structure, intraspecific variation, and eco-evolutionary dynamics are all important.

Welcome to the marriage of human capability and artificial intelligence

2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
pp. 10-14
Author(s):  
Ryan Scott ◽  
Malcolm Le Lievre
Keyword(s):  
Artificial Intelligence ◽  
Team Building ◽  
Workplace Change ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Future ◽  
Human Capability ◽  
Mind Set ◽  
Future Work ◽  
Crucial Part ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explore insights methodology and technology by using behavioral to create a mind-set change in the way people work, especially in the age of artificial intelligence (AI). Design/methodology/approach The approach is to examine how AI is driving workplace change, introduce the idea that most organizations have untapped analytics, add the idea of what we know future work will look like and look at how greater, data-driven human behavioral insights will help prepare future human-to-human work and inform people’s work with and alongside AI. Findings Human (behavioral) intelligence will be an increasingly crucial part of behaviorally smart organizations, from hiring to placement to adaptation to team building, compliance and more. These human capability insights will, among other things, better prepare people and organizations for changing work roles, including working with and alongside AI and similar tech innovation. Research limitations/implications No doubt researchers across the private, public and nonprofit sectors will want to further study the nexus of human capability, behavioral insights technology and AI, but it is clear that such work is already underway and can prove even more valuable if adopted on a broader, deeper level. Practical implications Much “people data” inside organizations is currently not being harvested. Validated, scalable processes exist to mine that data and leverage it to help organizations of all types and sizes be ready for the future, particularly in regard to the marriage of human capability and AI. Social implications In terms of human capability and AI, individuals, teams, organizations, customers and other stakeholders will all benefit. The investment of time and other resources is minimal, but must include C-suite buy in. Originality/value Much exists on the softer aspects of the marriage of human capability and AI and other workplace advancements. What has been lacking – until now – is a 1) practical, 2) validated and 3) scalable behavioral insights tech form that quantifiably informs how people and AI will work in the future, especially side by side.

scholarly journals Investigating the user experience of customer service chatbot interaction: a framework for qualitative analysis of chatbot dialogues

2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Asbjørn Følstad ◽  
Cameron Taylor
Keyword(s):  
Qualitative Analysis ◽  
Customer Service ◽  
User Experience ◽  
Practical Relevance ◽  
Interaction Patterns ◽  
Case Examples ◽  
Key Drivers ◽  
Future Work ◽  
Practical Implications ◽  
Insight Into

AbstractThe uptake of chatbots for customer service depends on the user experience. For such chatbots, user experience in particular concerns whether the user is provided relevant answers to their queries and the chatbot interaction brings them closer to resolving their problem. Dialogue data from interactions between users and chatbots represents a potentially valuable source of insight into user experience. However, there is a need for knowledge of how to make use of these data. Motivated by this, we present a framework for qualitative analysis of chatbot dialogues in the customer service domain. The framework has been developed across several studies involving two chatbots for customer service, in collaboration with the chatbot hosts. We present the framework and illustrate its application with insights from three case examples. Through the case findings, we show how the framework may provide insight into key drivers of user experience, including response relevance and dialogue helpfulness (Case 1), insight to drive chatbot improvement in practice (Case 2), and insight of theoretical and practical relevance for understanding chatbot user types and interaction patterns (Case 3). On the basis of the findings, we discuss the strengths and limitations of the framework, its theoretical and practical implications, and directions for future work.

scholarly journals Fragmentation mediates thermal habitat choice in ciliate microcosms

2020 ◽  
Vol 287 (1919) ◽  
pp. 20192818
Author(s):  
Estelle Laurent ◽  
Nicolas Schtickzelle ◽  
Staffan Jacob
Keyword(s):  
Habitat Fragmentation ◽  
Evolutionary Dynamics ◽  
Environmental Changes ◽  
Tetrahymena Thermophila ◽  
Habitat Choice ◽  
Emigration And Immigration ◽  
Dispersal Rate ◽  
Thermal Habitat ◽  
Twofold Increase ◽  
Dynamics Of Populations

Habitat fragmentation is expected to reduce dispersal movements among patches as a result of increased inter-patch distances. Furthermore, since habitat fragmentation is expected to raise the costs of moving among patches in the landscape, it should hamper the ability or tendency of organisms to perform informed dispersal decisions. Here, we used microcosms of the ciliate Tetrahymena thermophila to test experimentally whether habitat fragmentation, manipulated through the length of corridors connecting patches differing in temperature, affects habitat choice. We showed that a twofold increase of inter-patch distance can as expected hamper the ability of organisms to choose their habitat at immigration. Interestingly, it also increased their habitat choice at emigration, suggesting that organisms become choosier in their decision to either stay or leave their patch when obtaining information about neighbouring patches gets harder. This study points out that habitat fragmentation might affect not only dispersal rate but also the level of non-randomness of dispersal, with emigration and immigration decisions differently affected. These consequences of fragmentation might considerably modify ecological and evolutionary dynamics of populations facing environmental changes.

scholarly journals In situ predator conditioning of naive prey prior to reintroduction

2019 ◽  
Vol 374 (1781) ◽  
pp. 20180058 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel T. Blumstein ◽  
Mike Letnic ◽  
Katherine E. Moseby
Keyword(s):  
Small Groups ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Management Tool ◽  
Behavioural Ecology ◽  
Ecological Community ◽  
Theme Issue ◽  
Selection For ◽  
Future Work ◽  
Dynamics Of Populations

Many translocations and introductions to recover threatened populations fail because predators kill prey soon after release; a problem exacerbated for predator-naive prey. While pre-release training has been shown to work in some situations, it is time consuming and relies on using inferred predator cues and treating small groups. We review a relatively new and very promising management tool: in situ , pre-release predator conditioning. Here, the goal is to allow prey in large enclosures to live with low densities of predators to accelerate selection for antipredator traits (in an evolutionary sense) or provide prey essential experience with predators that they will later encounter. We review the published results of a large-scale, controlled experiment where we have permitted burrowing bettongs ( Bettongia lesueur ) and greater bilblies ( Macrotis lagotis ) to live with low densities of feral cats ( Felis catus ), a species implicated in their widespread decline and localized extinction. We found that both species could persist with cats, suggesting that future work should define coexistence thresholds—which will require knowledge of prey behaviour as well as the structure of the ecological community. Compared to control populations, predator-naive prey exposed to cats has a suite of morphological and behavioural responses that seemingly have increased their antipredator abilities. Results suggest that predator-conditioned bilbies survive better when released into a large enclosure with an established cat population; future work will determine whether this increased survival extends to the wild. This article is part of the theme issue ‘Linking behaviour to dynamics of populations and communities: application of novel approaches in behavioural ecology to conservation’.

scholarly journals Library inventory using a RFID wand: contribution of tag and book specific factors on the read rate

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kasper Abcouwer ◽  
Emiel van Loon
Keyword(s):  
Radio Frequency Identification ◽  
Rfid Tags ◽  
Positive Contribution ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Frequency Identification ◽  
Specific Factors ◽  
Read Rate ◽  
Future Work ◽  
Previous Paragraph ◽  
Practical Implications

PurposeLow read rates are a general problem in library inventories. The purpose of this study is to examine the factors that contribute to the success of library inventory by means of a radio-frequency identification (RFID) inventory taker. The factors investigated were tag position, tag orientation, book thickness, tag density (related to thickness of a sequence of books) and position on the shelf.Design/methodology/approachA total of 210 books were placed in eight random permutations on three fixed book shelves. For each configuration, the RFID tags were read forty times. The resulting data were analysed by means of a generalized linear model, relating the combined contribution of tag position, tag orientation, book thickness and position on the bookshelf to the read rate.FindingsThe tags positioned directly next to the spine were always read, but those near the opening of the book (far from the spine and inventory reader) were not always read. Considering only books with tags near the opening, tag orientation and position on the shelf appeared not to be related to the read rate, while book thickness, thickness over three books and spine tag density appeared to have a small positive contribution to the read rate.Practical implicationsLow read rates during a library inventory can be prevented by placing the tags near the book spine – the other book specific factors (listed in the previous paragraph) are of little influence. When not scanned during a first sweep, repeated scanning can increase the read rate with 0.15.Originality/valueThis paper is one of the first to analyse the influence of tag location and book specific factors on the read rate of RFID tags in library books. The experimental approach sets an example for future work.

scholarly journals Projecting marine developmental diversity and connectivity in future oceans

2020 ◽  
Vol 375 (1814) ◽  
pp. 20190450 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dustin J. Marshall ◽  
Mariana Alvarez-Noriega
Keyword(s):  
Evolutionary Dynamics ◽  
Marine Conservation ◽  
Theme Issue ◽  
Developmental Duration ◽  
Larval Phase ◽  
Marine Systems ◽  
Integrative Research ◽  
Research Perspectives ◽  
Species Groups ◽  
Dynamics Of Populations

Global change will alter the distribution of organisms around the planet. While many studies have explored how different species, groups and traits might be re-arranged, few have explored how dispersal is likely to change under future conditions. Dispersal drives ecological and evolutionary dynamics of populations, determining resilience, persistence and spread. In marine systems, dispersal shows clear biogeographical patterns and is extremely dependent on temperature, so simple projections can be made regarding how dispersal potentials are likely to change owing to global warming under future thermal regimes. We use two proxies for dispersal—developmental mode and developmental duration. Species with a larval phase are more dispersive than those that lack a larval phase, and species that spend longer developing in the plankton are more dispersive than those that spend less time in the plankton. Here, we explore how the distribution of different development modes is likely to change based on current distributions. Next, we estimate how the temperature-dependence of development itself depends on the temperature in which the species lives, and use this estimate to project how developmental durations are likely to change in the future. We find that species with feeding larvae are likely to become more prevalent, extending their distribution poleward at the expense of species with aplanktonic development. We predict that developmental durations are likely to decrease, particularly in high latitudes where durations may decline by more than 90%. Overall, we anticipate significant changes to dispersal in marine environments, with species in the polar seas experiencing the greatest change. This article is part of the theme issue ‘Integrative research perspectives on marine conservation’.

Q-Bot, the Quarantine Robot: Joint-media engagement between children and adults about quarantine living experiences

2020 ◽  
Vol 121 (5/6) ◽  
pp. 401-409
Author(s):  
Sonia Tiwari
Keyword(s):  
Design Methodology ◽  
Secondary Data ◽  
Past Research ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Media Design ◽  
Hygiene Practices ◽  
Cdc Guidelines ◽  
Open Coding ◽  
Future Work ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose Information about the COVID-19 pandemic and quarantine can be challenging to communicate to children. The purpose of this study is to understand how a children’s eBook can help facilitate conversations between children, families and educators about the pandemic. Design/methodology/approach A children’s eBook Q-Bot: The Quarantine Robot was shared by the researcher with parents and teachers through social media (Facebook, Instagram and Twitter). The story provides information (based on CDC guidelines) on the best health and hygiene practices to avoid catching the virus, while also drawing attention to the hardworking people who are helping us through this experience. Data was collected as public comments on the eBook. Secondary data included other children’s eBooks available on the same theme and their public reviews. Findings Through open coding of comments, the researcher found that the children’s eBook helped in facilitation of discussion between children, parents and teachers; around the pandemic’s effects on health and hygiene practices; and remote learning experiences. A content analysis of other children’s books on this theme revealed a set of guidelines for designing helpful eBooks for pandemic quarantine situations in general. Research limitations/implications Education, media and health researchers may find this study helpful in understanding the potential of children’s eBooks as probes, prompts or communication tools. Practical implications Experts in pandemic-related issues, educators, illustrators and authors may find this study helpful in understanding guidelines for creating educational children’s eBooks for similar situations in the future. Originality/value Both theoretical and practical values are addressed through this study, as it provides helpful literature from past research, offers new insights from current study and guidelines for future work in narrative media design for the pandemic and other similar situations.

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