Minerva Center for the Study of Population Fragmentation

Fragmentation dynamics: From Ecology & Evolution to Human Prehistory

The Hebrew University of Jerusalem (established in 2023)

Keywords

Ecology; evolution; fragmentation; genetics; cultural change; diversity

Research activities and aims

Our long-term goal is to gain insights into the dual role of fragmentation as both a driver and inhibitor of processes that are central to evolution, genetics, ecology and cultural change and diversity. Fragmentation induces interesting and non-trivial dynamics through inhibition of transmission on the one hand and by its potential for generating diversity on the other. It has long been recognized that fragmentation has negative effects on species diversity, genetic diversity of populations, and on conservation efforts focused on the maintenance of ongoing ecological dynamics. In the study of cultural systems, fragmentation is perceived as a barrier between human groups (in prehistoric past),
populations and political entities (in more recent history). However – perhaps counter-intuitively – fragmentation may also promote diversity, and may minimize spread of detrimental or less resilient variants through stochastic processes. Fragmentation may also serve a crucial role in decoupling the fates of populations and ecosystems, both in the biological and the cultural sense, limiting the spread of invasive species, epidemics, and ideas, and thereby increasing the overall robustness and resilience of ecosystems and cultures.