Speaker: Prof. Kalle Parvinen, Department of Mathematics and Statistics, University of Turku

Title: Function-valued adaptive dynamics and the evolution of flowering phenology

Abstract: Adaptive dynamics is a mathematical framework that has been widely used to understand evolution by natural selection. Evolving traits have been typically assumed to be one-dimensional, or vector-valued with relatively low dimension. In this presentation I discuss the evolution of function-valued traits. Function-valued adaptive traits naturally arise in a great variety of settings: variable or heterogeneous environments, age-structured populations, phenotypic plasticity, resource gradients, and in many other areas of evolutionary ecology. The long-term evolutionary dynamics of such traits can be analyzed using the canonical equation of adaptive dynamics of function-valued traits. Models with function-valued traits have typically been either of direct effect or process-mediated, and different optimization methods with environmental feedback can be used to find singular strategies. Our model for studying the evolution of flowering phenology is a process-mediated model. In such models the function-valued trait affects a process described by differential equations. The model predicts evolution of the full range of flowering patterns, from continuous flowering to mass flowering with a single, short period of intensive flowering, to staggered flowering with two or more plant morphs flowering in succession.

References:

• Dieckmann, Heino & Parvinen (2006) The adaptive dynamics of function-valued traits. J. Theor. Biol 241, 370–389
• Parvinen, Dieckmann & Heino (2006) Function-valued adaptive dynamics and the calculus of variations. J. Math. Biol. 52, 1–26
• Parvinen, Heino & Dieckmann (2013) Function-valued adaptive dynamics and optimal control theory. J. Math. Biol. 67, 509–533

Biosketch: Dr. Parvinen studied applied mathematics at the University of Turku, Finland, where he completed his master's degree in 1997. He completed his doctoral thesis entitled "Adaptive Metapopulation Dynamics" and received his PhD degree in June 2001. He obtained his habilitation (docent, adjunct professor) in biomathematics in February 2006. In 2012, he completed pedagogical studies for university teachers. He is a permanent university researcher in applied mathematics at the University of Turku. Dr. Parvinen's fields of interest are metapopulations, especially structured metapopulation models, evolution of dispersal and cooperation, and the general theory of adaptive dynamics, including evolutionary suicide and function-valued traits.

Zoom Info:

https://oist.zoom.us/j/97938488890?pwd=dCt4eU5oUCtOVGs0dWJheEkrbllLZz09

Meeting ID: 979 3848 8890
Passcode: 423990