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Temperature stress disrupts reciprocal adaptation in a microbial predator-prey system
Karissa Plum1, Rebecca Zufall1
1Department of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Houston, Houston, Texas, United States.
Journal of Evolutionary Biology
|March 14, 2026
Summary
Environmental temperature stress hinders predator-prey coevolution by impeding trait evolution in both species. This abiotic stress limits prey defense and predator efficiency, impacting ecological community stability.
Area of Science:
- Ecology
- Evolutionary Biology
- Microbiology
Background:
- Antagonist interactions, like predator-prey dynamics, are crucial drivers of ecological and evolutionary processes.
- Environmental conditions influence coevolutionary outcomes, but the impact of abiotic stress is not well understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate how temperature stress affects the evolutionary trajectories of traits in a bacteria-ciliate predator-prey system (Pseudomonas fluorescens - Tetrahymena pyriformis).
- To determine if temperature stress alters the coevolutionary dynamics between predator and prey species.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a bacteria-ciliate predator-prey system (Pseudomonas fluorescens - Tetrahymena pyriformis).
- Introduced controlled temperature stress to experimental populations.
- Monitored evolutionary changes in traits related to predator-prey interactions and growth rates.
Main Results:
- Temperature stress significantly impeded the evolution of traits essential for predator-prey interactions in both species.
- Prey defense capabilities and predator feeding efficiency were reduced under temperature stress.
- Growth rate evolution in both bacterial and ciliate populations was altered by temperature stress.
Conclusions:
- Temperature stress disrupts the evolutionary pathways of both predator and prey traits.
- Reciprocal coevolution between predator and prey is weakened by environmental stressors like temperature.
- Environmental stressors may compromise the stability and persistence of ecological communities by hindering coevolution.
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