RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Coevolution alters predator life history traits, behavior and morphology in experimental microbial communities
JF bioRxiv
FD Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
SP 748582
DO 10.1101/748582
A1 Johannes Cairns
A1 Felix Moerman
A1 Emanuel A. Fronhofer
A1 Florian Altermatt
A1 Teppo Hiltunen
YR 2019
UL http://biorxiv.org/content/early/2019/08/28/748582.abstract
AB Predator-prey interactions are key for the dynamics of many ecosystems. An increasing body of evidence suggests that rapid evolution and coevolution can alter these interactions, with important ecological implications by acting on traits determining fitness, including reproduction, anti-predatory defense and foraging efficiency. However, most studies to date have focused only on evolution in the prey species, and the predator traits in coevolving systems remain poorly understood. Here we investigated changes in predator traits after ~600 generations in a predator-prey (ciliate-bacteria) coevolutionary experiment. Predators independently evolved on seven different prey species, allowing generalization of the predator’s evolutionary response. We used highly resolved automated image analysis to quantify changes in predator life history, morphology and behavior. Consistent with previous studies, we found that prey evolution impaired growth of the predator. In contrast, predator evolution did not cause a clear increase in fitness when feeding on ancestral prey. However, predator evolution affected morphology and behavior, increasing size, speed and directionality of movement, which have all been linked to higher prey search efficiency. These results show that in coevolving systems, predator adaptation can occur in traits relevant to offense level without translating into an increased ability of the predator to grow on the ancestral prey type.