Wedekind Group - Evolutionary Biology and Ecology / Evolutionary Conservation Biology

• Lay summary of our work (with lots of photos)
• Workshop: Evolutionary Consequences of Unintended Artificial Selection (22-25 August 2022, Swiss Alps)

In general, any captive or supportive breeding should minimize the variance in reproductive success that is not linked to viability traits. However, minimizing reproductive skew might not be the best conservation strategy if potential mates differ in their heritable viability. If a reproductive skew can be positively linked to heritable viability, there might be a way to optimize this skew with respect to the long-term survival prospects of a population. We are working on the optimal compromise between promoting genetic variation versus promoting heritable viability in small populations.

Examples: Garaud et al. (Heredity 2024); Bylemans et al. (Mol Ecol 2024, Ecology 2024); Nusbaumer et al. (Mol Ecol 2023, Proc R Soc B 2019); Clark et al. (Funct Ecol 2014, PLoS ONE 2013); Jacob et al. (Mol Ecol 2010, Anim Behav 2009); Wedekind et al. (Proc R Soc B 2008, Conserv Biol 2002)

Life-history theory predicts that parents weigh their investment in each individual offspring according to the fitness return of the offspring. Parents may therefore alter their investment in particular breeding attempts according to the likelihood of its success and to the perceived attractiveness of their mates. This kind of trade-off calculations may not always work for small populations in their changed (and possibly protected) environment. We study plasticity of life-history traits that could be taken into account in population management.

Examples: Nusbaumer et al. (Mol Ecol 2023); Jeannerat et al. (Mol Ecol 2018; Sci Rep 2020, 2017); Burger et al. (Proc R Soc B 2017, 2015; PLoS One 2015); Rudolfsen et al. (Behav Ecol Sociobiol 2008); Wedekind et al. (Biol Conserv 2007)

By fishing and by supplementing natural fish populations with hatchery-produced larvae and juveniles, humans are likely to select against certain traits and promote others. We study the evolutionary consequence of fishing and stocking in the context of current habitat changes.

Examples: Wedekind et al. (Glob Ecol Conserv 2022); Palejowski et al. (Front Ecol Evol 2022); Escher et al. (Volkswirtschaftsdirektion des Kantons Bern 2013, 186 pp.); Stelkens et al. (Mol Ecol 2012); Nusslé et al. (Evol Ecol 2011; Evol Appl 2009)

Manipulating population sex ratio is often possible, either through non-invasive methods like changing sex-determining ecological or social factors, or through more invasive methods such as hormone treatment of embryos. There are a number of scenarios in which manipulations of sex ratios may be an option to promote population growth, at least over a certain time span. The most obvious ones are:
(i) Very small or rapidly declining population sizes call for emergency actions like, for example, captive breeding programs. The increase of population size to above critical levels is one of the first aims of these programs. When population growth is restricted by the availability of oocytes, manipulating sex ratio towards more females might be desirable under some circumstances.
(ii) The sex ratio in small populations is sometimes skewed for a variety of reasons. Manipulating the sex ratio of the coming generations towards less skewed ratios or towards different types of skews might be one of the aims of conservation efforts, especially if the present skew is male biased.

Examples: Bylemans et al. (Mol Ecol 2024); Schacht et al. (Commun Biol 2022); Nusbaumer et al. (Front Ecol Evol 2021); Geffroy & Wedekind (J Fish Biol 2020); Wedekind (Phil Trans R Soc 2017); Pompini et al. (J Fish Biol 2013); Wedekind et al. (Conserv Biol 2013); Stelkens & Wedekind (Mol Ecol 2010); Cotton & Wedekind (Conserv Biol 2009); Lenz et al. (Anim Conserv 2007); Wedekind (Anim Conserv 2002)

Organic pollution, especially the increased availability of nutrients to microbial symbionts, enhances the mortality of many water-living organisms. We experimentally study various pathways that may link organic pollution, pathogen growth, and the viability of fish.

Examples: Garaud et al. (Heredity 2024); Bylemans et al. (Ecology 2024); Wilkins et al. (Mol Ecol 2016); Clark et al. (Funct Ecol 2014, Mol Ecol 2013); Jacob et al. (Mol Ecol 2010); Wedekind et al. (Ecology 2010)

Chemical substances that could become exotoxicologically relevant have to pass a number of tests before being marketed. In Switzerland and many other countries, these tests are largely following the OECD guidelines (www.oecd.org). We have listed problems with some of these guidelines, and we are testing alternative methods. We are also studying the evolutionary potential of natural populations to adapt to common pollutants.

Examples: Nusbaumer et al. (Evol Appl 2021); Selmoni et al. (BMC Genomics 2019); Marques da Cunha et al. (Evol Appl 2019); Brazzola et al. (Evol Appl 2014); Wedekind (BMC Biol 2014); Wedekind, von Siebenthal & Gingold (Environ Pollut 2007)

Game theory can to a large extent explain how cooperation evolves in conflict situations. Many conservation problems are the consequence of conflicts, e.g. of cooperation problems between different stakeholders. We use modelling and experimental games to better understand cooperative solutions to social conflicts.

Examples: dos Santos (Proc R Soc B 2015); dos Santos & Wedekind (Evol Hum Behav 2015); dos Santos et al. (Sci Rep 2015, Front Ecol Evol 2014, Evolution 2013, Proc R Soc B 2011); Wedekind & Braithwaite (Curr Biol 2002); Wedekind & Milinski (Science 2000)