Change in prey genotype frequency rescues predator from extinction

Indirect evolutionary rescue (IER) is a mechanism where a non-evolving species is saved from extinction in an otherwise lethal environment by evolution in an interacting species. This process has been described in a predator–prey model, where extinction of the predator is prevented by a shift in the frequency of defended towards undefended prey when reduced predator densities lower selection for defended prey. We test here how increased mortality and the initial frequencies of the prey types affect IER. Combining the analysis of model simulations and experiments with rotifers feeding on algae we show IER in the presence of increased predator mortality. We found that IER was dependent on the ability of the prey to evolve as well as on the frequency of the defended prey. High initial frequencies of defended prey resulted in predator extinction despite the possibility for prey evolution, as the increase in undefended prey was delayed too much to allow predator rescue. This frequency dependency for IER was more pronounced for higher predator mortalities. Our findings can help informing the development of conservation and management strategies that consider evolutionary responses in communities to environmental changes.

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“…Data accessibility. The raw data are provided as electronic supplementary material [47]. Authors' contributions.…”

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confidence: 99%

Change in prey genotype frequency rescues predator from extinction

Hermann

Becks

2022

R. Soc. open sci.

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Multiple trade-offs between defense and competitiveness traits in a planktonic predator-prey system

Réveillon

Becks

2022

Preprint

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Predator-prey interactions play a central role in community dynamics and thus energy and matter transfers in food webs. Intraspecific variation in traits and particularly in trait combinations involved in trade-offs can alter predator-prey interactions but the underlying mechanisms governing these interactions are still unclear. Quantifying the relevant traits forming trade-off relationships and how these traits determine prey and predator fitness remains a major challenge, even for a single species. Here, we measured multiple traits related to defensive and competitive abilities to investigate the intraspecific trade-off between defence and competitiveness in 6 different strains of the green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii exposed to predation by the rotifer Brachionus calyciflorus and examine the consistency of the trait relationships and its consequence for the predator. We found significant differences in defence and competitiveness traits that were used to categorized prey strains as defended against predation and poor competitors, undefended against predation and good competitors, or intermediate in both traits. Furthermore, we found that the different morphological and trophic traits related to defence and competitiveness of prey strains were negatively correlated. The position of prey strains in trait space were consistent independent of the defence and competitiveness trait considered. As we compared trait differences between prey strains coming from environments where selection has favoured one trait or the other, these negative correlations strongly suggested the presence of a trade-off between defence and competitiveness. Our study represents the first empirical evidence of the consistency in the expression of a defence-competitiveness trade-off at the intraspecific level. Assessing the relation between relevant traits and trade-offs and understanding how it translates into fitness of prey and predator allows improving general theory on the outcomes of predator-prey interactions and ecosystem processes.

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Change in prey genotype frequency rescues predator from extinction

Cited by 2 publications

References 39 publications

Change in prey genotype frequency rescues predator from extinction

Change in prey genotype frequency rescues predator from extinction

Multiple trade-offs between defense and competitiveness traits in a planktonic predator-prey system

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