Evolutionary branching and long-term coexistence of cycling predators: critical function analysis

Area of Science:

• Ecology
• Evolutionary Biology
• Theoretical Ecology

Background:

• Two predators can coexist on a single prey species if the ecological dynamics are not at equilibrium.
• Predator coexistence is often limited by evolutionary constraints and trade-offs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the conditions for evolutionarily stable coexistence of two predators with different functional responses.
• To investigate if predator populations can evolve from a single ancestor through evolutionary branching.

Main Methods:

• Modeling predator-prey interactions with Holling type II functional responses.
• Analyzing evolutionary stability using a novel method for arbitrary trade-off functions between handling time and offspring production.

Main Results:

• Evolutionary branching of predator handling times is possible but not highly probable, depending on the trade-off function.
• Evolutionarily stable coexistence is achievable under broader conditions than previously suggested.
• Specific trade-off shapes, featuring concave and convex segments, facilitate stable coexistence.

Conclusions:

• Predator coexistence and evolutionary branching are influenced by the specific trade-offs between foraging efficiency and reproduction.
• The study expands the understanding of evolutionary stable strategies in predator-prey systems.
• Ecological non-equilibrium dynamics can support diverse predator communities through evolutionary processes.