Impact of genotype-dependent dispersal on mutation fixation in subdivided populations

In the wild, every population exhibits a certain degree of spatial structure. Some populations are subdivided into demes, between which individuals may disperse. Dispersal ability is influenced by certain mutations, which can also affect vital traits such as birth and death rates. To quantify the impact of population subdivision on the evolutionary dynamics of such mutations, we derive their fixation probability in both the island and stepping-stone models. Our analytical derivations highlight an effective selection coefficient, which quantifies how differences in vital and dispersal traits between the mutant and wild type contribute to the mutant’s spread. We also examine how other quantities, such as fixation time, are influenced by mutations that affect both vital and dispersal traits.