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04:52
Following the Dynamics of Structural Variants in Experimentally Evolved Populations
Published on: February 3, 2023
Coevolution of slow-fast populations: evolutionary sliding, evolutionary pseudo-equilibria and complex Red Queen
F Dercole1, R Ferrière, A Gragnani
1DEI, Politecnico di Milano Via Ponzio 34/5, 20133 Milano, Italy. fabio.dercole@polimi.it
Proceedings. Biological Sciences
|April 22, 2006
Summary
Genetic variation can shift ecological dynamics, creating adaptive landscape ridges and evolutionary pseudo-equilibria. This study reveals novel eco-evolutionary phenomena in predator-prey systems.
Area of Science:
- Ecology
- Evolutionary Biology
- Theoretical Biology
Background:
- Ecological and evolutionary dynamics often occur across different timescales.
- Interactions between populations can lead to complex community dynamics and fitness variations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the interplay between ecological and evolutionary dynamics in communities with contrasting timescales.
- To explore how genetic variation influences population dynamics and adaptive landscapes.
- To identify novel eco-evolutionary phenomena.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of a theoretical predator-prey community model.
- Incorporation of adaptive traits for each population.
- Examination of eco-evolutionary dynamics and adaptive landscapes.
Main Results:
- Genetic variation can induce transitions between ecological regimes (stationary vs. cyclic), causing abrupt fitness changes.
- Abrupt fitness variations create 'ridges' in the adaptive landscape, leading to evolutionary pseudo-equilibria.
- Observed phenomena include evolutionary extinction and two forms of Red Queen dynamics, one with intermittent oscillations.
Conclusions:
- The identified phenomena, including adaptive landscape ridges and pseudo-equilibria, are likely generic to systems with discontinuous fitness variations.
- Eco-evolutionary dynamics in communities with contrasting timescales exhibit unique features like evolutionary extinction and novel Red Queen dynamics.
- This research provides a framework for understanding complex eco-evolutionary interactions and their impact on community stability and evolution.
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