Density Dependent dispersals

Context

Scientists at the Pune-based Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) carried out experiments to study the phenomenon of ‘density-dependent dispersal’ by observing around 29,000 fruit flies to see if evolution had modified their tendency to move towards or away from crowded regions.

Study findings:

While females had been dispersing more than the males initially, the males overtook females in movement after evolution.
This finding is perhaps the first evidence of an evolutionary reversal in the dispersal of the two sexes.

Significance:

The study of biological dispersal finds applications in epidemiology, conservation of biodiversity as well as control of agricultural pests.
‘Density-dependent dispersal’ is central to our understanding of which life forms occur where.
Some species live in large groups while others are solitary.
Similarly, movement occurs away from a crowd in some species and towards it in others. This pattern is termed ‘density-dependent dispersal’.
The study highlights the need to frequently assess movement patterns of ecologically relevant species.

Source: TH

Join Our Telegram

AI Impact Summit 2026: IndiaAI Mission, MANAV Vision & Global AI Governance | UPSC GS-3 S&T

India’s Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI) – UPSC GS-2 Indo-Pacific Notes

20 Nov, 25
SHARE

India’s Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI) UPSC GS-2 INDO PACIFIC – IR/PSIR IPOI is India’s open, voluntary and non-treaty-based maritime initiative for building a free, open, inclusive and rules-based Indo-Pacific through practical cooperation. Why in News? India’s Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative has gained renew

AI Impact Summit 2026: IndiaAI Mission, MANAV Vision & Global AI Governance | UPSC GS-3 S&T

19 May, 26
SHARE

AI Impact Summit 2026 UPSC GS-3 S&T PT-MAINS The India-AI Impact Summit 2026 positioned India as a Global South leader by shifting global AI debate from only AI safety and regulation to AI for development, inclusion and real-world impact. Why in News? India hosted the India-AI Impact Summit 2026 at B

Hong Kong Convention for Safe Ship Recycling – IMO Treaty & India’s Ship Recycling Law | UPSC GS-3 Environment

27 Jun, 25
SHARE

Hong Kong Convention for Safe Ship Recycling UPSC GS-3 ENVIRONMENT PT-MAINS The Hong Kong International Convention, 2009 is an IMO treaty that ensures ships are recycled safely without unnecessary risk to human health, worker safety and the environment. Why in News? The Hong Kong Convention entered into force on 26 June 2

LeadIT 2.0: India-Sweden Initiative for Low-Carbon Industry Transition | UPSC GS-2 & GS-3

14 Nov, 23
SHARE

LeadIT 2.0: Leadership Group for Industry Transition UPSC GS-2 IR GS-3 S&T LeadIT 2.0 is the second phase of the India-Sweden-led global initiative to support low-carbon transition in hard-to-abate industrial sectors. Why in News? The second phase of LeadIT was announced at the LeadIT Summit 2023, ho

India-EFTA TEPA: Trade & Economic Partnership Agreement Explained | UPSC GS-2 IR/PSIR

03 Sep, 25
SHARE

India-EFTA Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement UPSC GS-2 IR/PSIR The India-EFTA TEPA is a comprehensive trade pact between India and four non-EU European countries — Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland — aimed at boosting trade, investment, jobs, services, technology and supply-chain resilience. Wh