Life history evolution and among-individual variation
A major focus of the group research is to understand the causes and consequences of among-individual variation in labile traits such as behaviour and physiology, and the link with life history evolution. We address this question using two complementary approaches:
Using an empirical approach: currently we are actively working on the quantification of among-individual differences in behaviour, as well as other labile traits such as immunology (Bichet et al., 2021 J Anim Ecol), hormonal profiles (Hau et al., 2022 Proc B) and mercury susceptibility (Bertram et al., 2024 STOTEN). Additionally, we are very interested in the link between individual differences and life history evolution. We have collaborated with multiple researchers to show, for instance, that a signaling trade-off under sexual selection revealed among-individual covariance in trait allocation (Reichert et al., 2024 Evol), that correlations among demographic parameters were ubiquitous but did not markedly change along the slow‐fast continuum of life histories (Fay et al. 2022 Ecol Lett), and that telomere length was genetically correlated with lifespan, although there was no individual variation in telomere shortening (Vedder et al., 2021 Mol Ecol).
Using an evidence synthesis approach: we have collaborated on a review paper of the adaptive mechanisms that maintain individual differences in behaviour (i.e., “animal personality”) (Sih et al., 2015 TREE), and investigated the fitness consequences of these individual differences in behaviour using meta-analytical tools (Moiron et al., 2020 Ecol Lett). More recently, Petri Niemelä, Kate Laskowski and Maria have clarified the role that among-individual variation in behaviour might play in classic life history theory and, in particular, in resource allocation-acquisition trade-offs (Laskowski et al., 2021 TREE), and tested whether there were genetic correlations underpinning classic life history trade-offs (Chang et al., 2024 Ecol Lett) .