Citation
Evolutionary consequences of niche construction and their implications for ecology
TL;DR
Niche construction can drive evolution even when the constructed trait is selectively neutral
Early theoretical paper establishing that niche construction has evolutionary consequences distinct from natural selection. Shows mathematically how environmental modification by organisms can change selection pressures and drive evolutionary trajectories. Foundational for understanding niche construction as a distinct evolutionary force.
Key Findings from Laland et al. (1999)
- Niche construction can drive evolution even when the constructed trait is selectively neutral
- Environmental modification creates selection pressures on other traits
- Niche construction and natural selection interact in complex ways