Résumé
Understanding biological range expansions and invasions is of great
ecological and economical interest. Importantly, spatial dynamics can be
deeply affected by rapid evolution depending on the ecological context.
Using experimental evolution in replicated microcosm landscapes and
numerical analyses we show experimentally that the ecological process of
range expansions leads to the evolution of increased dispersal. This
evolutionary change counter-intuitively feeds back on (macro-)ecological
patterns affecting the spatial distribution of population densities. While
existing theory suggests that densities decrease from range cores to range
margins due to K-selection, we show the reverse to be true when
competition is considered explicitly including resource dynamics. We
suggest that a dispersal-foraging trade-off, leading to more ‘prudent’
foraging at range margins, is the driving mechanism behind the
macroecological pattern reported. In conclusion, rapid multi-trait
evolution and eco-evolutionary feedbacks are highly relevant for
understanding macroecological patterns and designing appropriate
conservation strategies.