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Metabolic evolution in response to interspecific competition in a eukaryote
Giulia Ghedini1, Dustin J Marshall1
1Centre for Geometric Biology, School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, VIC 3800, Australia.
Current Biology : CB
|July 1, 2023
Summary
Competition rapidly drives evolution in microalgae, altering ecological communities. Experimental evolution showed that metabolic plasticity co-evolved, improving population growth and carrying capacity beyond initial predictions.
Area of Science:
- Eco-evolutionary dynamics
- Metabolic theory
- Eukaryotic evolution
Background:
- Competition is a key driver of rapid evolution and ecological change.
- Metabolic theory predicts how competition shapes metabolism and size evolution.
- Testing these predictions in eukaryotes, especially microalgae, is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the coevolution of metabolism, size, and demography in response to competition.
- To test predictions of metabolic theory in a eukaryotic model system.
- To understand the role of metabolic plasticity in eco-evolutionary dynamics.
Main Methods:
- Experimental evolution of a eukaryotic microalga under inter- and intraspecific competition.
- Monitoring changes in cell size, metabolic rates, and demographic parameters (growth rate, carrying capacity).
- Comparing evolved lineages with competition-free controls.
Main Results:
- Evolved microalgae reduced metabolic costs and increased carrying capacity by altering cell size, aligning with metabolic theory.
- Initially, smaller evolved cells showed lower growth rates, but longer-term evolution improved both growth and carrying capacity.
- Rapid evolution of metabolic plasticity allowed lineages to evade predicted trade-offs and track resource availability.
Conclusions:
- Metabolic theory provides a framework for predicting eco-evolutionary responses to environmental change.
- Metabolic plasticity rapidly coevolves with metabolism and demography under competition.
- Updated metabolic theory should incorporate metabolic plasticity to better understand competition-driven eco-evolutionary dynamics.
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