Ecological Research

, Volume 20, Issue 2, pp 115–119 | Cite as

Niche construction and polymorphism maintenance in metapopulations

Original Article
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Abstract

Niche construction, a term referring to the modification of their environments by any organism, can profoundly influence the genetic dynamics and structure of a metapopulation. Through niche construction, we give the dynamics and spatial structure of genotype frequencies using one- and two-dimensional metapopulation lattice models, and these models generate archipelago-like structures in space through an ecological imprint in order to maintain polymorphism with low genetic load within demes, which do not need heterozygote superiority. With habitat deterioration and restoration, niche construction generates a threshold phenomenon and obstructs the changes in environments. Hence, in practice, restoration is a more difficult process than deterioration. Furthermore, niche construction may serve as an important mechanism for maintaining diversity in nature, including genetic, species and ecosystem diversity.

Keywords

Niche construction Metapopulation Genetic structure Niche fitness Restoration 
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Notes

Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 30070139), the National Key Basic Research Program (2002CCA00300), and the Gansu Natural Science Foundation of China (ZS031-A25-036-D). We are grateful to Prof. Zizhen Li, Prof. Z.M. Miao, and Dr. Shigeo Yachi for their constructive comments and kind help with the English of this manuscript. We also thank two anonymous reviewers for their helpful comments.

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Copyright information

© The Ecological Society of Japan 2004

Authors and Affiliations

  1. 1.State Key Laboratory of Arid AgroecologyLanzhou UniversityLanzhouChina
  2. 2.Department of Conservation EcologySpatial, Physiological and Conservation Ecology (SPACE) Group, University of StellenboschMatielandSouth Africa

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