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The functional genomics of an eco-evolutionary feedback loop: linking gene expression, trait evolution, and community
Lutz Becks1, Stephen P Ellner, Laura E Jones
1Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA. lbecks@evolbio.mpg.de
Ecology Letters
|March 16, 2012
Summary
Eco-evolutionary feedbacks drive community dynamics. In predator-prey systems, prey evolution impacts predator growth, completing a feedback loop with molecular underpinnings.
Area of Science:
- Ecology
- Evolutionary Biology
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Eco-evolutionary feedbacks are crucial for ecosystem functioning but rarely demonstrated at the community level.
- Molecular mechanisms driving these dynamics remain largely unknown.
Discussion:
- Cyclical predator-prey interactions in rotifer-alga microcosms induced fluctuating selection on prey defense (cell clumping).
- Prey evolution, not just abundance, significantly influenced predator population growth.
- Predator abundance changes drove subsequent prey evolution, establishing a complete feedback loop.
Key Insights:
- Demonstrated a complete eco-evolutionary feedback loop at the community level.
- Identified molecular mechanisms: gene expression patterns correlated with prey defense trait changes.
- Observed reversal of gene expression patterns between cycles, indicating flexible phenotypic plasticity.
Outlook:
- Further research into the molecular basis of eco-evolutionary dynamics.
- Investigating the role of gene transcription pathways in adaptive evolution.
- Exploring the implications for community stability and ecosystem resilience.
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