Genetic perspectives on northern population cycles : bridging the gap between theory and empirical studies

• Many key species in northern ecosystems are characterised by high-amplitude cyclic population demography. In 1924,Charles Elton described the ecology and evolution of cyclic populations in a classic paper and, since then, a major focushas been the underlying causes of population cycles. Elton hypothesised that fluctuations reduced population geneticvariation and influenced the direction of selection pressures. In concordance with Elton, present theories concern thedirect consequences of population cycles for genetic structure due to the processes of genetic drift and selection, but alsoinclude feedback models of genetic composition on population dynamics. Most of these theories gained mathematicalsupport during the 1970s and onwards, but due to methodological drawbacks, difficulties in long-term sampling and acomplex interplay between microevolutionary processes, clear empirical data allowing the testing of these predictionsare still scarce. Current genetic tools allow for estimates of genetic variation and identification of adaptive genomicregions, making this an ideal time to revisit this subject. Herein, we attempt to contribute towards a consensus regardingthe enigma described by Elton almost 90 years ago. We present nine predictions covering the direct and genetic feedbackconsequences of population cycles on genetic variation and population structure, and review the empirical evidence.Generally, empirical support for the predictions was low and scattered, with obvious gaps in the understanding of basicpopulation processes. We conclude that genetic variation in northern cyclic populations generally is high and that thegeographic distribution and amount of diversity are usually suggested to be determined by various forms of context-and density-dependent dispersal exceeding the impact of genetic drift. Furthermore, we found few clear signaturesof selection determining genetic composition in cyclic populations. Dispersal is assumed to have a strong impact ongenetic structuring and we suggest that the signatures of other microevolutionary processes such as genetic drift andselection are weaker and have been over-shadowed by density-dependent dispersal. We emphasise that basic biologicaland demographical questions still need to be answered and stress the importance of extensive sampling, appropriatechoice of tools and the value of standardised protocols.

Subject headings

NATURVETENSKAP  -- Biologi (hsv//swe)

NATURAL SCIENCES  -- Biological Sciences (hsv//eng)

Keyword

climate

Elton

cyclic

Arctic

Chitty

hypothesis

density-dependent dispersal

Publication and Content Type

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