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Evolutionary rescue in a host-pathogen system results in coexistence not clearance
Mark Redpath Christie1,2, Catherine Laura Searle1
1Department of Biological Sciences Purdue University West Lafayette IN USA.
Evolutionary Applications
|June 8, 2018
Summary
Host populations can evolve to resist new pathogens, increasing survival. However, this evolution can reduce population size and genetic diversity, highlighting the need for conservation of genetically diverse populations.
Area of Science:
- Ecology
- Evolutionary Biology
- Conservation Biology
Background:
- Novel pathogens pose extinction risks to host populations.
- Understanding host evolutionary rescue conditions and pathogen impacts is crucial.
- Genetic variation in host susceptibility influences population persistence.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between genetic variation in host susceptibility and population persistence.
- To model evolutionary rescue in an amphibian-fungal pathogen system.
- To assess the impact of host evolution on population outcomes.
Main Methods:
- An individual-based model was constructed.
- Simulations focused on an amphibian-fungal pathogen (Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis) system.
- Relationships between genetic variation and population persistence were analyzed.
Main Results:
- Host populations evolved reduced susceptibility to the novel pathogen.
- Evolution increased the likelihood of host-pathogen coexistence by 71-fold.
- Costs of coexistence included reduced infection clearance, depressed population sizes, and loss of neutral genetic diversity.
Conclusions:
- Rapid host evolution can facilitate pathogen coexistence but with population-level costs.
- Larger initial host population sizes and greater adaptive genetic variation reduce extinction rates.
- Conservation efforts should prioritize genetically diverse populations facing novel infectious diseases.
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