Population density, bottom-up and top-down control as an interactive triplet to trigger dispersal

Dispersal reflects the trade-offs between the cost of a change in habitat and the fitness benefits conferred by that change. Many factors trigger the dispersal of animals, but in field studies they are typically not controllable; consequently, they are mostly studied in the laboratory, where their single and interactive effects on dispersal can be investigated. We tested whether three fundamental factors, population density as well as bottom-up and top-down control, influence the emigration of the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. Nematode movement was observed in experiments conducted in two-chamber arenas in which these factors were manipulated. The results showed that both decreasing food availability and increasing population density had a positive influence on nematode dispersal. The presence of the predatory flatworm Polycelis tenuis did not consistently affect dispersal but worked as an amplifier when linked with population density with respect to certain food-supply levels. Our study indicates that nematode dispersal on small scales is non-random; rather, the worms’ ability to perceive environmental information leads to a context-dependent decision by individuals to leave or stay in a patch. The further use of nematodes to gain insights into both the triggers that initiate dispersal, and the traits of dispersing individuals will improve the modeling of animal behavior in changing and spatial heterogenous landscapes.