Evolutionary ecology

Most biologists recognize that ecology and evolution are inexorably linked; ecology drives natural selection and evolutionary history is the foundation upon which a species’ ecological interactions play out. The “tradeoff” is perhaps the greatest unifying concept in ecology and evolution because tradeoffs promote coexistence and the maintenance of biodiversity, and at the same time stimulate evolutionary specialization and the generation of biodiversity.  Tradeoffs occur at all levels, among phenotypes, genotypes, and species.  Yet, where they don’t occur is perhaps as telling as where they do occur. Through history, theory, and the current results, the importance of tradeoffs will be revealed.