A species near its equilibrium size in a fluctuating environment can evolve a lower intrinsic rate of increase.
In one specific model of a density-regulated population undergoing natural selection in a fluctuating environment there is a systematic evolutionary pressure favoring a lower intrinsic rate of increase, which can sometimes even overcome an evolutionary pressure favoring a higher carrying capacity.
Heckel
D G
DG
Department of Biological Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305.
Roughgarden
J
J