The potential role of spatial sorting in speciation and adaptive radiations

Abstract

Given that Matsubayashi and Yamaguchi (2022) admirably cover the general understanding of species radiations and suggest approaches to isolate underlying mechanisms, we concentrate on a novel concept of “spatial sorting” that has emerged from the biology of invasive species and highlights a distinct role of dispersal in generating evolutionary change. The potential role for spatial sorting to facilitate or impede adaptation in natural populations at large spatial scales has been broadly overlooked. Herein, we consider how speciation and adaptive radiations may be promoted or impeded by this underexplored evolutionary mechanism.