Coevolution in sexually reproducing populations of predators and prey
Authored by Micael E Nagai, Aguiar Marcus A M de
Date Published: 2016
DOI: 10.1016/j.ecolmodel.2016.06.017
Sponsors:
Brazilian Ministry of Education (CAPES)
Brazilian National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq)
São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP)
Platforms:
No platforms listed
Model Documentation:
ODD
Mathematical description
Model Code URLs:
Model code not found
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.
Tags
Spatial dynamics
Arms races
Garter snakes
Tetrodotoxin resistance
Evolutionary
response
Phenotypic interface
Thamnophis-sirtalis
Sodium-channels
Dangerous prey
Red-queen