Data and R Code for publication: Should dispersers be fast learners? Modelling the role of cognition in dispersal

Both cognitive abilities and dispersal tendencies can vary strongly between individuals. Since cognitive abilities may help dealing with unknown circumstances it is conceivable that dispersers may rely more heavily on learning abilities than residents. However, cognitive abilities are costly and leaving a familiar place might result in losing the advantage of having learned to deal with local conditions. Thus, individuals which invested in learning to cope with local conditions may be more reluctant to leave their natal place. In order to disentangle the complex relationship between dispersal and learning abilities we implemented individual-based simulations. By allowing for developmental plasticity, individuals could either develop a \"resident\" or \"dispersal\" cognitive phenotype.

In line with our expectations, the correlation between learning abilities and dispersal could take any direction, depending how much time individuals had to recoup their investment in cognition. Both, longe...

不同个体间的认知能力（cognitive ability）与扩散倾向（dispersal tendency）均存在显著差异。鉴于认知能力有助于应对未知情境，我们可以合理推测：相较于定居个体（resident），扩散个体（disperser）或许更依赖学习能力。然而，认知能力存在适合度成本，且离开熟悉栖息地可能会丧失因适应本地环境而习得的优势。因此，那些投入资源学习以适应本地环境的个体，往往更不愿离开其出生栖息地。为厘清扩散与学习能力之间的复杂关联，本研究采用了基于个体的模拟（individual-based simulation）方法。通过引入发育可塑性（developmental plasticity）设定，个体可发育为"定居型"或"扩散型"认知表型（cognitive phenotype）。与研究预期一致，学习能力与扩散行为间的相关关系方向不定，具体取决于个体回收认知投资所需的时间。二者的长期……