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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...

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Autores principales: Hermann, Ruben Joseph, Becks, Lutz
Formato: Online Artículo Texto
Lenguaje:English
Publicado: The Royal Society 2022
Materias:
Acceso en línea:https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9214283/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/35754995
http://dx.doi.org/10.1098/rsos.220211
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author Hermann, Ruben Joseph
Becks, Lutz
author_facet Hermann, Ruben Joseph
Becks, Lutz
author_sort Hermann, Ruben Joseph
collection PubMed
description 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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spelling pubmed-92142832022-06-24 Change in prey genotype frequency rescues predator from extinction Hermann, Ruben Joseph Becks, Lutz R Soc Open Sci Ecology, Conservation and Global Change Biology 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. The Royal Society 2022-06-22 /pmc/articles/PMC9214283/ /pubmed/35754995 http://dx.doi.org/10.1098/rsos.220211 Text en © 2022 The Authors. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Published by the Royal Society under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) , which permits unrestricted use, provided the original author and source are credited.
spellingShingle Ecology, Conservation and Global Change Biology
Hermann, Ruben Joseph
Becks, Lutz
Change in prey genotype frequency rescues predator from extinction
title Change in prey genotype frequency rescues predator from extinction
title_full Change in prey genotype frequency rescues predator from extinction
title_fullStr Change in prey genotype frequency rescues predator from extinction
title_full_unstemmed Change in prey genotype frequency rescues predator from extinction
title_short Change in prey genotype frequency rescues predator from extinction
title_sort change in prey genotype frequency rescues predator from extinction
topic Ecology, Conservation and Global Change Biology
url https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9214283/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/35754995
http://dx.doi.org/10.1098/rsos.220211
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