Modelling inducible defences in predator-prey interactions
- Inducible defences against predation are widespread in the natural world, allowing prey to economise on the costs of defence when predation risk varies over time or is spatially structured. Through interspecific interactions, inducible defences have major impacts on ecological dynamics, particularly predator-prey stability and phase lag. Researchers have developed multiple distinct approaches, each reflecting assumptions appropriate for particular ecological communities. Yet, the impact of inducible defences on ecological dynamics can be highly sensitive to the modelling approach used, making the choice of model a critical decision that affects interpretation of the dynamical consequences of inducible defences. Here, we review three existing approaches to modelling inducible defences: Switching Function, Fitness Gradient and Optimal Trait. We assess when and how the dynamical outcomes of these approaches differ from each other, from classic predator-prey dynamics and from commonly observed eco-evolutionary dynamics with evolving, butInducible defences against predation are widespread in the natural world, allowing prey to economise on the costs of defence when predation risk varies over time or is spatially structured. Through interspecific interactions, inducible defences have major impacts on ecological dynamics, particularly predator-prey stability and phase lag. Researchers have developed multiple distinct approaches, each reflecting assumptions appropriate for particular ecological communities. Yet, the impact of inducible defences on ecological dynamics can be highly sensitive to the modelling approach used, making the choice of model a critical decision that affects interpretation of the dynamical consequences of inducible defences. Here, we review three existing approaches to modelling inducible defences: Switching Function, Fitness Gradient and Optimal Trait. We assess when and how the dynamical outcomes of these approaches differ from each other, from classic predator-prey dynamics and from commonly observed eco-evolutionary dynamics with evolving, but non-inducible, prey defences. We point out that the Switching Function models tend to stabilise population dynamics, and the Fitness Gradient models should be carefully used, as the difference with evolutionary dynamics is important. We discuss advantages of each approach for applications to ecological systems with particular features, with the goal of providing guidelines for future researchers to build on.…
Author details: | Masato YamamichiORCiD, Toni KlauschiesGND, Brooks E. Miner, Ellen van VelzenORCiDGND |
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DOI: | https://doi.org/10.1111/ele.13183 |
ISSN: | 1461-023X |
ISSN: | 1461-0248 |
Pubmed ID: | https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30548755 |
Title of parent work (English): | Ecology letters |
Subtitle (English): | assumptions and dynamical consequences of three distinct approaches |
Publisher: | Wiley |
Place of publishing: | Hoboken |
Publication type: | Review |
Language: | English |
Year of first publication: | 2019 |
Publication year: | 2019 |
Release date: | 2021/04/16 |
Tag: | Adaptive dynamics; fitness gradient; inducible defence; optimal trait; phenotypic plasticity; predator-prey dynamics; reaction norm; switching function |
Volume: | 22 |
Issue: | 2 |
Number of pages: | 15 |
First page: | 390 |
Last Page: | 404 |
Funding institution: | DynaTrait program of German Research Foundation (DFG); Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS)Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, Japan (MEXT)Japan Society for the Promotion of Science [15H02642, 16K18618, 16H04846]; German Science FoundationGerman Research Foundation (DFG) [DFG: GA401/26-1] |
Organizational units: | Mathematisch-Naturwissenschaftliche Fakultät / Institut für Biochemie und Biologie |
DDC classification: | 5 Naturwissenschaften und Mathematik / 57 Biowissenschaften; Biologie / 570 Biowissenschaften; Biologie |
Peer review: | Referiert |
Publishing method: | Open Access / Bronze Open-Access |