# Evolution arrests invasions of cooperative populations

## TL;DR

Evolution can stop the spread of cooperative populations by favoring mutations that reduce movement, offering new ways to control invasive species.

## Contribution

The study shows evolution can lead to reduced invasiveness in cooperative populations and derives an analytical fitness model.

## Key findings

- Mutations reducing dispersal gain a competitive edge in cooperative populations.
- Accumulation of these mutations halts population invasion at the expansion front.
- Evolution can drive populations into less favorable, non-invasive states.

## Abstract

Population expansions trigger many biomedical and ecological transitions, from tumor growth to invasions of non-native species. Although population spreading often selects for more invasive phenotypes, we show that this outcome is far from inevitable. In cooperative populations, mutations reducing dispersal have a competitive advantage. Such mutations then steadily accumulate at the expansion front bringing invasion to a halt. Our findings are a rare example of evolution driving the population into an unfavorable state and could lead to new strategies to combat unwelcome invaders. In addition, we obtain an exact analytical expression for the fitness advantage of mutants with different dispersal rates.

PACS numbers: 87.23.Kg, 05.60.Cd, 64.60.-i, 87.23.Cc