@phdthesis{Lakovic2020,
  author    = {Lakovic, Milica},
  title     = {Evolution of animal dispersal: Putting timing in perspective},
  doi       = {10.25972/OPUS-15452},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-154522},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg},
  year      = {2020},
  abstract  = {Dispersal is a life-history trait affecting dynamics and persistence of populations; it evolves under various known selective pressures. Theoretical studies on dispersal typically assume 'natal dispersal', where individuals emigrate right after birth. But emigration may also occur during a later moment within a reproductive season ('breeding dispersal'). For example, some female butterflies first deposit eggs in their natal patch before migrating to other site(s) to continue egg-laying there. How breeding compared to natal dispersal influences the evolution of dispersal has not been explored. To close this gap we used an individual-based simulation approach to analyze (i) the evolution of timing of breeding dispersal in annual organisms, (ii) its influence on dispersal (compared to natal dispersal). Furthermore, we tested (iii) its performance in direct evolutionary contest with individuals following a natal dispersal strategy. Our results show that evolution should typically result in lower dispersal under breeding dispersal, especially when costs of dispersal are low and population size is small. By distributing offspring evenly across two patches, breeding dispersal allows reducing direct sibling competition in the next generation whereas natal dispersal can only reduce trans-generational kin competition by producing highly dispersive offspring in each generation. The added benefit of breeding dispersal is most prominent in patches with small population sizes. Finally, the evolutionary contests show that a breeding dispersal strategy would universally out-compete natal dispersal.},
  language  = {en}
}
@phdthesis{Kubisch2012,
  author    = {Kubisch, Alexander},
  title     = {Range border formation in the light of dispersal evolution},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-70639},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg},
  year      = {2012},
  abstract  = {Understanding the emergence of species' ranges is one of the most fundamental challenges in ecology. Early on, geographical barriers were identified as obvious natural constraints to the spread of species. However, many range borders occur along gradually changing landscapes, where no sharp barriers are obvious. Mechanistic explanations for this seeming contradiction incorporate environmental gradients that either affect the spatio-temporal variability of conditions or the increasing fragmentation of habitat. Additionally, biological mechanisms like Allee effects (i.e. decreased growth rates at low population sizes or densities), condition-dependent dispersal, and biological interactions with other species have been shown to severely affect the location of range margins. The role of dispersal has been in the focus of many studies dealing with range border formation. Dispersal is known to be highly plastic and evolvable, even over short ecological time-scales. However, only few studies concentrated on the impact of evolving dispersal on range dynamics. This thesis aims at filling this gap. I study the influence of evolving dispersal rates on the persistence of spatially structured populations in environmental gradients and its consequences for the establishment of range borders. More specially I investigate scenarios of range formation in equilibrium, periods of range expansion, and range shifts under global climate change ...},
  subject      = {Areal},
  language  = {en}
}