Density dependence during evolutionary rescue increases extinction risk but does not prevent adaptation

Evolutionary rescue allows populations to adapt and persist despite severe environmental change. While well studied under density-independent conditions, the role of density dependence, including competition, remains unclear. Theoretical models offer conflicting predictions, with density dependence either increasing extinction risk or enhancing adaptation. We empirically tested how density dependence influences evolutionary rescue by exposing experimental populations to a stressful environment for six generations under density-dependent or independent conditions, with populations where either evolution was possible or was prevented by replacing individuals each generation. Density dependence suppressed population size and increased extinction risk, whereas density independence enabled rapid growth, especially in genetically diverse populations where evolution was possible. Although density dependence raises extinction risk, it does not prevent populations from responding to selection, s..., , # Density dependence during evolutionary rescue increases extinction risk but does not prevent adaptation

Dryad DOI: [https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.rbnzs7hs7](https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.rbnzs7hs7)

## GENERAL INFORMATION

#### 1. Description

This research compendium describes how to analyze population size, extinction, and life-history traits data from an evolutionary rescue experiment conducted in 2022. [here](https://github.com/olazlaure/AnalysisNDDDelta).

The analyses of this research compendium are described in: \"Density dependence during evolutionary rescue increases extinction risk but does not prevent adaptation.\"

Article DOI: [https://doi.org/10.1101/2024.12.12.628101v3](https://doi.org/10.1101/2024.12.12.628101v3)

#### 2. Author information and main investigator:

```
Name: Laure Olazcuaga
Institution: Colorado State University, USA
Email: [e-mail]
ORCID: 0000-0001-9100-1305
```

For the complete list of authors of the manuscript, see the manuscript.

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