Title: Eco-evolutionary feedbacks - theoretical models and perspectives,
Abstract: 1. Theoretical models pertaining to feedbacks between ecological and
evolutionary processes are prevalent in multiple biological fields. An
integrative overview is currently lacking, due to little crosstalk between the
fields and the use of different methodological approaches.
2. Here we review a wide range of models of eco-evolutionary feedbacks and
highlight their underlying assumptions. We discuss models where feedbacks occur
both within and between hierarchical levels of ecosystems, including
populations, communities, and abiotic environments, and consider feedbacks
across spatial scales.
3. Identifying the commonalities among feedback models, and the underlying
assumptions, helps us better understand the mechanistic basis of
eco-evolutionary feedbacks. Eco-evolutionary feedbacks can be readily modelled
by coupling demographic and evolutionary formalisms. We provide an overview of
these approaches and suggest future integrative modelling avenues.
4. Our overview highlights that eco-evolutionary feedbacks have been
incorporated in theoretical work for nearly a century. Yet, this work does not
always include the notion of rapid evolution or concurrent ecological and
evolutionary time scales. We discuss the importance of density- and
frequency-dependent selection for feedbacks, as well as the importance of
dispersal as a central linking trait between ecology and evolution in a spatial
context.