• Featured in Physics
  • Editors' Suggestion

Sources and Sinks: A Stochastic Model of Evolution in Heterogeneous Environments

Rutger Hermsen and Terence Hwa
Phys. Rev. Lett. 105, 248104 – Published 8 December 2010
Physics logo See Synopsis: Adapting to habitat

Abstract

We study evolution driven by spatial heterogeneity in a stochastic model of source-sink ecologies. A sink is a habitat where mortality exceeds reproduction so that a local population persists only due to immigration from a source. Immigrants can, however, adapt to conditions in the sink by mutation. To characterize the adaptation rate, we derive expressions for the first arrival time of adapted mutants. The joint effects of migration, mutation, birth, and death result in two distinct parameter regimes. These results may pertain to the rapid evolution of drug-resistant pathogens and insects.

  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Received 21 September 2010

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.105.248104

© 2010 The American Physical Society

Synopsis

Key Image

Adapting to habitat

Published 8 December 2010

Spatial variations can drive evolution in certain ecological habitats.

See more in Physics

Authors & Affiliations

Rutger Hermsen* and Terence Hwa

  • Center for Theoretical Biological Physics, University of California at San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, USA

  • *hermsen@ctbp.ucsd.edu

Article Text (Subscription Required)

Click to Expand

References (Subscription Required)

Click to Expand
Issue

Vol. 105, Iss. 24 — 10 December 2010

Reuse & Permissions
Access Options
Author publication services for translation and copyediting assistance advertisement

Authorization Required


×
×

Images

×

Sign up to receive regular email alerts from Physical Review Letters

Log In

Cancel
×

Search


Article Lookup

Paste a citation or DOI

Enter a citation
×