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Several theoretical studies predict that informed (e.g., density-dependent) dispersal should generally result in lower emigration probabilities than uninformed (random) dispersal. In a 2012 publication, Bocedi et al. surprisingly come to the opposite conclusion. For most scenarios investigated, they found that noninformed and, particularly, less precisely informed dispersers evolve lower dispersal propensity than dispersers following “fully informed” strategies. Further, they observed that fully informed individuals evolved a steplike dispersal response—a response to local density that contradicts theoretical predictions for organisms with nonoverlapping generations. Replicating the individual-based simulations of Bocedi et al. we find that these conclusions are not justified and are based on a misinterpretation of simulation results: their controversial findings result from (i) a misleading use of the term “population density,” (ii) a misconception concerning the true informative value of the dif...

Increasing interest is directed on understanding how individuals utilize information to come to dispersal decisions. We assume individuals base emigration decisions on male and female density in their natal patches. We derive gender-specific functions for emigration probability of species with discrete generations and polygynous mating under the premise that dispersal strategies equalize fitness expectations of emigrants and philopatric individuals: migration decisions should then always depend on a critical threshold density of the own gender. Whether density of the opposite sex affects emigration depends on details of resource competition: (1) Without competition, females should never emigrate, while males should emigrate in response to local sex ratio. (2) Under extreme competition among females or offspring, females and males should respond to the local density of their own gender only. (3) If both sexes compete over resources, emigration responds to the density of both sexes, but the dependence differs quantitatively between females and males. (4) Male-biased dispersal is the general expectation for polygynous species, but the model allows specifying conditions under which more females than males might nonetheless emigrate. The model provides guidelines for implementing density-dependent dispersal in simulations and specifies principal patterns that should emerge in empirical data.

Numerous invertebrates inhabit social insect colonies, including the hoverfly genus Microdon, whose larvae typically live as brood predators. Formica lemani ant colonies apparently endure Microdon mutabilis infections over several years, despite losing a considerable fraction of young, and may even produce more gynes. We present a model for resource allocation within polygynous ant colonies, which assumes that whether an ant larva switches development into a worker or a gyne depends on the quantity of food received randomly from workers. Accordingly, Microdon predation promotes gyne development by increasing resource availability for surviving broods. Several model predictions are supported by empirical data. (i) Uninfected colonies seldom produce gynes. (ii) Infected colonies experience a short-lived peak in gyne production leading to a bimodal distribution in gyne production. (iii) Low brood : worker ratio is the critical mechanism controlling gyne production. (iv) Brood : worker ratio reduction must be substantial for increased gyne production to become noticeable.