Evolution of age specific dispersal: a general discussion from the standpoint of the invasion fitness concept

Abstract. The age of dispersers is one of the important factors influencing the ecology and evolution of dispersal. Explanations in textbooks assume special social or genetic advantages to predict the dispersing age class. However, recent theoretical results suggest that age specific dispersal can evolve even without special advantages for the dispersing age class. Here we discuss and interpret these results on the basis of the invasion fitness concept and show with general arguments that the evolution of age specific dispersal is possible for purely demographic reasons. This furthers our general understanding of the evolution of age specific dispersal.