The Effect of Sporadic Dormancy on Adaptation under Natural Selection: A Formal Theory

Researchers puzzle over questions as to how rare species survive extinction, and why a significant proportion of microbial taxa are dormant. Computational simulation modeling by a genetic algorithm provides some answers. First, a weak/rare/lowly-adapted species can obtain significantly higher fitness by resorting to sporadic dormancy; thereby the probability of extinction is reduced. Second, the extent of fitness-gain is greater when a higher fraction of the population is dormant; thus, the probability of species survival is greater for higher prevalence of dormancy. In sum, even when the environment is unfavorable initially and remains unchanged, sporadic dormancy enables a weak/rare species enhance the extent of favorable adaptation over time, successfully combating the forces of natural selection.