Energy storage and the evolution of population dynamics

Area of Science:

• Ecology
• Evolutionary Biology
• Population Dynamics

Background:

• Life history evolution and population dynamics are interconnected.
• Energy storage plays a crucial role in predator-prey interactions.
• Understanding energy allocation is key to predicting evolutionary and ecological outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To model the mutual dependence of life history evolution and population dynamics in a structured rotifer population.
• To investigate the ecological role of energy storage in predator-prey systems.
• To predict evolutionary stable strategies for energy allocation.

Main Methods:

• Physiologically based submodel of energy assimilation and allocation (growth, reproduction, storage).
• Invasibility analyses to determine evolutionary stable strategies (ESS).
• Modeling a rotifer population with a dynamic food supply.

Main Results:

• Selection favors energy storage allocation in juveniles.
• Adults benefit from energy storage only at high prey densities.
• Standard fitness proxies (e.g., population size, fecundity) do not predict ESS.
• Evolution of energy storage can shift population dynamics from aperiodic to stable cycles.

Conclusions:

• Energy storage is a critical factor linking life history evolution and population dynamics.
• Individual-level adaptations in energy allocation can have profound effects on population stability.
• The evolution of energy storage can stabilize populations without invoking group selection.