J.M. Riederer

PhD project: The social determinants of evolvability

Evolvability, the capability of a biological system to undergo adaptive evolution, is of increasing interest in various fields within evolutionary biology. However, so far most attention as concentrated on “genetic determinants” of evolvability. In my PhD, I therefore aim to open a new chapter of evolvability research, by focussing on “social determinants”: How do aspects of the social system of a biological system affects its ability to evolve? In doing so, I explore topics such as: the impact of sexual selection on the evolution of adaptive response mechanisms in changing environments; the evolution of cooperative strategies in complex fitness landscapes; or the role of sexual selection in shaping the Anolis lizard radiation. I hope to address my questions using both theoretical and through empirical approaches, combining individual based simulations and fieldwork on Anolis lizards.