S. Belichon et al., ARE THERE DIFFERENCES IN FITNESS COMPONENTS BETWEEN PHILOPATRIC AND DISPERSING INDIVIDUALS, Acta oecologica, 17(6), 1996, pp. 503-517
Estimates of fitness associated with dispersal and philopatry are need
ed if we are to evaluate their evolution and their demographic consequ
ences. We examine previous theory, the main types of study design and
review available data on the relative fitnesses of dispersing and phil
opatric individuals. Transience and settlement are usually costly for
dispersers, but after settlement, dispersers have both advantages and
disadvantages when compared to philopatric individuals. Moreover, we o
bserved compensation between components of fitness. Intraspecific vari
ability associated with sex was frequent, but variability over time, s
pace or dispersal type were rarely studied. Finally, we found that pot
ential effects were commonly confounded. Transience has been studied i
n mammals, and for natal dispersal only. The consequences of breeding
dispersal have been documented only in birds. After natal dispersal, f
ecundity has been the subject of most comparisons in birds. Finally we
propose an experimental design which may help in separating the effec
t of dispersal type from an area effect.