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Experimentally simulating the evolution-to-ecology connection: Divergent predator morphologies alter natural food webs

The idea that changing environmental conditions drive adaptive evolution is a pillar of evolutionary ecology. But, the opposite—that adaptive evolution alters ecological processes—has received far less attention yet is critical for eco-evolutionary dynamics. We assessed the ecological impact of dive...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores principales: Kolbe, Jason J., Giery, Sean T., Lapiedra, Oriol, Lyberger, Kelsey P., Pita-Aquino, Jessica N., Moniz, Haley A., Leal, Manuel, Spiller, David A., Losos, Jonathan B., Schoener, Thomas W., Piovia-Scott, Jonah
Formato: Online Artículo Texto
Lenguaje:English
Publicado: National Academy of Sciences 2023
Materias:
Acceso en línea:https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10268251/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/37276393
http://dx.doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2221691120
Descripción
Sumario:The idea that changing environmental conditions drive adaptive evolution is a pillar of evolutionary ecology. But, the opposite—that adaptive evolution alters ecological processes—has received far less attention yet is critical for eco-evolutionary dynamics. We assessed the ecological impact of divergent values in a key adaptive trait using 16 populations of the brown anole lizard (Anolis sagrei). Mirroring natural variation, we established islands with short- or long-limbed lizards at both low and high densities. We then monitored changes in lower trophic levels, finding that on islands with a high density of short-limbed lizards, web-spider densities decreased and plants grew more via an indirect positive effect, likely through an herbivore-mediated trophic cascade. Our experiment provides strong support for evolution-to-ecology connections in nature, likely closing an otherwise well-characterized eco-evolutionary feedback loop.