Intrinsic fitness differences outweigh environmental matching in shaping introduction outcomes in nature
Lucas Eckert, Daniel I. Bolnick, Alison Margaret Derry, Grant E. Haines, Alexis M. Heckley, Åsa J. Lind, Catherine L. Peichel, Allison M. Roth, Natalie C. Steinel, Kristen Vlahiotis, Jesse N. Weber, Andrew P. Hendry, Rowan D. H. Barrett
This study introduces >12,000 threespine stickleback into nine lakes to test if environmental matching or intrinsic population traits predict introduction success, finding intrinsic traits are more important.
bioRxiv · Feb 5, 2026 · PreprintEvolutionary Biology