Evolutionary ecological theory suggests that selection arising from interactions with conspecifics, such as sexual and kin selection, may result in evolution of intraspecific conflicts and evolutionary ‘tragedy of the commons’. Here, we propose that such an evolution of conspecific conflicts may affect population dynamics in a way that enhances species coexistence. Empirical evidence and theoretical models suggest that more abundant species is more susceptible to invasion of ‘selfish’ individuals that increase their own reproductive success at the expense of population growth (intraspecific adaptation load). The density-dependent intraspecific adaptation load gives rise to a self-regulation mechanism at the population level, and stabilizes species coexistence at the community level by negative frequency-dependence.

进化生态学理论表明，与特定物种相互作用而产生的选择，例如性和亲缘选择，可能导致物种内部冲突的演变和进化上的“公地悲剧”。在这里，我们建议这种特定冲突的演变可能以增强物种共存的方式影响种群动态。经验证据和理论模型表明，种类更多的物种更容易受到“自私”个体的入侵，这些个体以牺牲人口增长（种内适应负荷）为代价来增加自身的繁殖成功率。依赖于密度的种内适应负荷在种群水平上产生了一种自我调节机制，并通过负频率依赖性稳定了物种在社区水平上的共存。