Evolution of foraging behaviour induces variable complexity-stability relationships in mutualist-exploiter-predator...

Area of Science:

• Ecology
• Evolutionary Biology
• Theoretical Ecology

Background:

• Early ecological theory posits that complex ecological networks are inherently unstable.
• Empirical evidence often contradicts this, showing complex, stable natural communities.
• Resolving the complexity-stability debate requires integrating population and trait dynamics.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate how eco-evolutionary feedbacks affect the complexity-stability relationship in ecological networks.
• To explore the role of foraging adaptation evolution in mutualist-exploiter-predator communities (MEST).

Main Methods:

• Developed an adaptive network model incorporating population and trait dynamics.
• Simulated foraging preference evolution in MEST communities with varying complexity.
• Analyzed community persistence (stability) under different adaptation intensities and competition levels.

Main Results:

• Adaptive foraging by top predators enhances mutualism stability.
• Intermediate foraging adaptation can induce chaotic dynamics in a four-species MEST community.
• The complexity-stability relationship exhibits diverse patterns (monotonic, peaked, double-peaked), with the latter requiring high adaptation and competition.

Conclusions:

• Foraging adaptations can significantly alter indirect ecological effects (trait-mediated), impacting community stability.
• Model predictions align with observed complexity-stability patterns in freshwater and marine ecosystems.
• The adaptive network framework offers a novel approach to understanding real-world ecological stability debates.