phenotypic plasticity and community diversity.
Phenotypic plasticity often allows individuals to
maintain fitness homeostasis over a much broader
range of conditions. Can phenotypically plastic spe-
cies obtain a broader niche in the community than
species that have a fixed phenotype? If so, does
plasticity give them a competitive advantage over
competing species and is the effect of phenotypic
plasticity equivalent to the effect of intraspecific
genetic diversity?
Itiscleartomostofusthatevolutionaryprocesses
in community ecology can no longer be ignored.
Whether the emerging field of evolutionary commu-
nity ecology will reach its full and exciting potential
will depend on the willingness of researchers to look
beyond the boundaries of their own discipline. We
need to stop seeing the inclusion of genetic diversity
or community context as a dictated nuisance, but
rather explore its usefulness in obtaining a better un-
derstanding of pure and applied problems in biology.162 FUTURE DIRECTIONS