Coevolution In Sexually Reproducing Populations Of Predators And Prey

Abstract

The dynamics of coevolution is a spatio-temporal process that cannot be understood by mean field approximations, where populations are considered well mixed and interactions are random. This intrinsic characteristic makes comprehensive empirical studies difficult and computer simulations can help to understand the interplay between the many components of the interactions. Here we created an individual-based model to study the coevolution of sexually reproducing populations of prey and predators that engage in an arms race. The phenotype interface of the interaction is a defensive trait for the prey and a counter-defensive one for the predator, both having costs that decrease reproduction chances. The simulations captured several features of natural systems, such as oscillations of the phenotypes levels and abundances. More importantly, the simulations show that local depletion of prey by predators with high levels of counter-defenses followed by recolonization by less defensive prey is a key mechanism that regulates the arms race and the spatio-temporal distribution of phenotypes, creating mismatches similar to those observed in natural systems. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

The dynamics of coevolution is a spatio-temporal process that cannot be understood by mean field approximations, where populations are considered well mixed and interactions are random. This intrinsic characteristic makes comprehensive empirical studies difficult and computer simulations can help to understand the interplay between the many components of the interactions. Here we created an individual-based model to study the coevolution of sexually reproducing populations of prey and predators that engage in an arms race. The phenotype interface of the interaction is a defensive trait for the prey and a counter-defensive one for the predator, both having costs that decrease reproduction chances. The simulations captured several features of natural systems, such as oscillations of the phenotypes levels and abundances. More importantly, the simulations show that local depletion of prey by predators with high levels of counter-defenses followed by recolonization by less defensive prey is a key mechanism that regulates the arms race and the spatio-temporal distribution of phenotypes, creating mismatches similar to those observed in natural systems.