The dark side of niche construction

Abstract Niche construction denotes the alteration, destruction, or creation of environmental features through activities an organism, modifying relation between organism and environment. The concept niche found application in various fields research: evolutionary biology, enculturation, ontogenetic development, local organism-environment coordination. This is because it provides a useful tool emphasizing different aspects dynamic interplay organisms their actively constructed Traditionally, considered positive mechanism complementarity In contrast, this paper sheds light on dark side construction, that is, manners which may modify are some way another harmful to them. First, introduces paradigmatic distinction four kinds as commonly addressed recent literature, using more less extended spatio-temporal scales distinguishing feature. Second, elaborates negative providing normative criteria (mal)adaptation suitable for evaluation alterations, given chosen scale. Of particular interest inter-scale conflicts: those cases constructions appear adaptive concerning one scale but maladaptive another. Third, distinguishes valuable instrument better understand central modern medicine entangled contribution evolutionary, socio-cultural, personal, situational health issues, chronic pain illustrative case study.