Short- and long-term antagonistic selection explains dispersal polymorphism in the common lizard

Abstract Dispersal is a key process that shapes the dynamics, genetic structure and adaptive potential of natural populations, yet persistence of its polymorphism remains puzzling. Combining quantitative genetics with long-term field data from 20-year population monitoring of common lizards (Zootoca vivipara), we assessed the heritability, intragenerational and multi-generational selection of dispersal. We found both natal and adult dispersal to be weakly to moderately heritable (h2=0.1–0.22). F