Coevolutionary chase in two-species systems with applications to mimicry

Area of Science:

• Evolutionary Biology
• Population Genetics
• Theoretical Ecology

Background:

• Frequency-dependent selection shapes species interactions.
• Coevolutionary dynamics are complex, especially with multiple evolving species.
• Mimicry systems provide a framework for studying interspecies resemblance and divergence.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a general dynamical model for the coevolution of two haploid populations.
• To analyze conditions favoring an "evolutionary chase" between species.
• To apply the model to mimicry systems and identify key factors influencing their dynamics.

Main Methods:

• Developed a general dynamical model for two haploid populations with two alleles.
• Incorporated weak linear symmetric frequency-dependent selection.
• Analyzed conditions for evolutionary chase and applied to mimicry models.

Main Results:

• Identified conditions for "evolutionary chase" where species alter resemblance.
• Demonstrated the critical role of the balance between inter- and intra-species interaction strengths.
• Showed the applicability to Müllerian, Batesian, and intermediate mimicry systems.

Conclusions:

• The relationship between inter- and intra-species interaction strengths is crucial for non-equilibrium mimicry dynamics.
• Future experimental and theoretical work should focus on this interaction balance.
• Studying mimicry morph frequencies over time can yield valuable insights.