The Changing Geometry of a Fitness Landscape Along an Adaptive Walk

<div><p>It has recently been noted that the relative prevalence of the various kinds of epistasis varies along an adaptive walk. This has been explained as a result of mean regression in NK model fitness landscapes. Here we show that this phenomenon occurs quite generally in fitness landscapes. We propose a simple and general explanation for this phenomenon, confirming the role of mean regression. We provide support for this explanation with simulations, and discuss the empirical relevance of our findings.</p>