A Model for Natural Selection of Genetic Migration

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Abstract
The literature has regarded migration as both an ecological phenomenon (the mere movement of individuals from one area to another) and a genetic phenomenon (i.e., dispersal, the mixing of individuals between demes or subpopulations). For example, the seasonal movement of birds between a breeding ground and an overwintering ground constitutes ecological migration, whereas the movement of an individual between breeding grounds is genetic migration. Ecological migration does not influence population structure (by definition), and natural selection therefore acts on ecological migration in a simple manner: the migratory habits yielding the highest fecundity are favored. Genetic migration influences population structure, however, and its evolution is not as simple. A model of genetic migration is studied and reveals that genetic migration is selected according to the geometric mean fitness of movements that constitute a "loop," involving gene flow away from and ultimately back to a deme. Since the natural selection of genetic migration is coupled to the fitnesses of multiple movements in a loop, the fitness of any component migration within such a loop may be high or low and cannot itself indicate the nature of selection for that component of migration. The present results are discussed in the context of previous results concerning the evolution of genetic migration.

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