Evolution and selection on multiple scales in space and time
Summary
In Theoretical Biology, the Price Equation is a valuable tool to describe the change in average phenotype in a population. However, the Price Equation does not describe how migration affects the average phenotype in local populations. Furthermore, on larger time scales, the mathematical meaning of the terms in the Price Equation diverges from the intuitive interpretation of most people. Also, in Theoretical Biology, concepts like `long-term' selection versus `short-term' selection, as well as `local' versus `global' selection, are sometimes discussed, yet a precise mathematical framework to describe these concepts is missing. I am proposing such a framework by introducing several extensions to the Price Equation. With use of this framework, selection, as well as other factors that can cause the average phenotype in a population to change, can be described in an exact and unambiguous way on multiple scales in space and time.