Competition for resources can reshape the evolutionary properties of spatial structure

Area of Science:

• Evolutionary biology
• Ecological modeling
• Network theory

Background:

• Evolving ecosystems often exhibit spatial structures representable as networks.
• Existing evolutionary network models overlook ecological niche differences and eco-evolutionary feedback.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate how heterogeneous network topology influences evolutionary dynamics.
• To integrate resource competition into evolutionary graph theory for studying eco-evolutionary interplay.

Main Methods:

• Combining a resource competition model with evolutionary graph theory.
• Analyzing global frequency-dependent ecological interactions.
• Utilizing simulations and analytical approximations.

Main Results:

• Ecological competition can reverse the roles of networks (amplifier vs. suppressor) for deleterious mutants.
• This effect is a nonlinear function of ecological niche overlap.
• Network topology in spatially constrained tumors (ductal carcinoma) may increase deleterious mutant hitchhiking.

Conclusions:

• Heterogeneous network structures significantly shape evolutionary dynamics when ecological competition is considered.
• The interplay between ecology and evolution is crucial for understanding adaptation and disease progression.
• Spatial constraints in tumor microenvironments can influence the evolutionary trajectory of cancer cells.