---
_id: '4134'
abstract:
- lang: eng
  text: 'All species are restricted in their distribution. Currently, ecological models
    can only explain such limits if patches vary in quality, leading to asymmetrical
    dispersal, or if genetic variation is too low at the margins for adaptation. However,
    population genetic models suggest that the increase in genetic variance resulting
    from dispersal should allow adaptation to almost any ecological gradient. Clearly
    therefore, these models miss something that prevents evolution in natural populations.
    We developed an individual-based simulation to explore stochastic effects in these
    models. At high carrying capacities, our simulations largely agree with deterministic
    predictions. However, when carrying capacity is low, the population fails to establish
    for a wide range of parameter values where adaptation was expected from previous
    models. Stochastic or transient effects appear critical around the boundaries
    in parameter space between simulation behaviours. Dispersal, gradient steepness,
    and population density emerge as key factors determining adaptation on an ecological
    gradient. '
acknowledgement: We are very grateful to Nick Barton.
article_processing_charge: No
author:
- first_name: Jon
  full_name: Bridle, Jon
  last_name: Bridle
- first_name: Jitka
  full_name: Polechova, Jitka
  id: 3BBFB084-F248-11E8-B48F-1D18A9856A87
  last_name: Polechova
  orcid: 0000-0003-0951-3112
- first_name: Masakado
  full_name: Kawata, Masakado
  last_name: Kawata
- first_name: Roger
  full_name: Butlin, Roger
  last_name: Butlin
citation:
  ama: Bridle J, Polechova J, Kawata M, Butlin R. Why is adaptation prevented at ecological
    margins? New insights from individual-based simulations. <i>Ecology Letters</i>.
    2010;13(4):485-494. doi:<a href="https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1461-0248.2010.01442.x">10.1111/j.1461-0248.2010.01442.x</a>
  apa: Bridle, J., Polechova, J., Kawata, M., &#38; Butlin, R. (2010). Why is adaptation
    prevented at ecological margins? New insights from individual-based simulations.
    <i>Ecology Letters</i>. Wiley-Blackwell. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1461-0248.2010.01442.x">https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1461-0248.2010.01442.x</a>
  chicago: Bridle, Jon, Jitka Polechova, Masakado Kawata, and Roger Butlin. “Why Is
    Adaptation Prevented at Ecological Margins? New Insights from Individual-Based
    Simulations.” <i>Ecology Letters</i>. Wiley-Blackwell, 2010. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1461-0248.2010.01442.x">https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1461-0248.2010.01442.x</a>.
  ieee: J. Bridle, J. Polechova, M. Kawata, and R. Butlin, “Why is adaptation prevented
    at ecological margins? New insights from individual-based simulations,” <i>Ecology
    Letters</i>, vol. 13, no. 4. Wiley-Blackwell, pp. 485–494, 2010.
  ista: Bridle J, Polechova J, Kawata M, Butlin R. 2010. Why is adaptation prevented
    at ecological margins? New insights from individual-based simulations. Ecology
    Letters. 13(4), 485–494.
  mla: Bridle, Jon, et al. “Why Is Adaptation Prevented at Ecological Margins? New
    Insights from Individual-Based Simulations.” <i>Ecology Letters</i>, vol. 13,
    no. 4, Wiley-Blackwell, 2010, pp. 485–94, doi:<a href="https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1461-0248.2010.01442.x">10.1111/j.1461-0248.2010.01442.x</a>.
  short: J. Bridle, J. Polechova, M. Kawata, R. Butlin, Ecology Letters 13 (2010)
    485–494.
date_created: 2018-12-11T12:07:08Z
date_published: 2010-03-15T00:00:00Z
date_updated: 2025-09-30T09:29:55Z
day: '15'
department:
- _id: NiBa
doi: 10.1111/j.1461-0248.2010.01442.x
ec_funded: 1
external_id:
  isi:
  - '000275635400008'
intvolume: '        13'
isi: 1
issue: '4'
language:
- iso: eng
month: '03'
oa_version: None
page: 485 - 494
project:
- _id: 25681D80-B435-11E9-9278-68D0E5697425
  call_identifier: FP7
  grant_number: '291734'
  name: International IST Postdoc Fellowship Programme
publication: Ecology Letters
publication_status: published
publisher: Wiley-Blackwell
publist_id: '1987'
quality_controlled: '1'
scopus_import: '1'
status: public
title: Why is adaptation prevented at ecological margins? New insights from individual-based
  simulations
type: journal_article
user_id: 317138e5-6ab7-11ef-aa6d-ffef3953e345
volume: 13
year: '2010'
...