Data from: Life-history evolution in response to changes in metapopulation structure in an arthropod herbivore

The persistence and dynamics of populations largely depends on the way they are configured and integrated into space and the ensuing eco-evolutionary dynamics. We manipulated spatial and temporal variation in patch size in replicated experimental metapopulations of the herbivore mite Tetranychus urticae and followed evolutionary dynamics over approximately 30 generations. A significant divergence in life history traits, physiological endpoints and gene expression was recorded in the spatially and spatiotemporally variable metapopulation, but also a remarkable convergence relative to the stable reference metapopulation in traits related to size and fecundity and in its transcriptional regulation. The observed evolutionary dynamics are tightly linked to demographic changes, more specifically frequent episodes of resource shortage that increased the reproductive performance of mites on tomato, a challenging host plant. This points towards a general, adaptive stress response in stable spatial variable and spatiotemporal variable metapopulations that pre-adapts a herbivore arthropod to novel environmental stressors.

种群的存续与动态在很大程度上取决于其空间配置与整合方式，以及由此产生的生态-进化动态（eco-evolutionary dynamics）。本研究以植食性螨类二斑叶螨（Tetranychus urticae）的重复实验集合种群（metapopulation）为对象，操控其斑块大小的空间与时间变异，并追踪了约30代的进化动态。在空间可变及时空可变的集合种群中，研究人员观测到生活史性状、生理终点指标与基因表达均发生显著分化；而相较于稳定的对照集合种群，两类种群在体型与繁殖力相关性状以及转录调控方面呈现出显著的趋同特征。本次观测到的进化动态与种群动态变化紧密关联，具体表现为频繁发生的资源短缺事件提升了二斑叶螨在番茄——一种具有挑战性的寄主植物——上的繁殖性能。该结果揭示，在空间可变及时空可变的集合种群中存在一种普适性的适应性应激响应，该响应可使植食性节肢动物预先适应新型环境胁迫因子。