The evolution of stability in a competitive system.

The characteristics governing the dynamics of populations can evolve and this evolution can either be towards stability or chaos. Yet it is not obvious how or why such population characteristics can evolve through selection on individuals. In this paper we construct a mathematical model, inspired by experimental results, illustrating the dynamics of a population of competing Drosophila. We demonstrate how selection of life history characteristics and stability influence one another as a population interacts with its environment. We generalize this result and show that population stability can evolve as a consequence of selection on individuals.