Artificial selection for adult predation survival impacts life-history and morphology in guppies (Poecilia reticulata)

Predation is accepted as a major evolutionary driver of life history and morphology. However, whether these traits evolve directly via predation or via indirect effects is largely unresolved. We used artificial selection over three generations to experimentally test the impact of adult predation on the evolution of life history and morphology in guppies (Poecilia reticulata). We found that, compared to control fish, predation-selected fish produced larger offspring and larger broods early in life. However, other life history parameters, such as interbrood interval and total number of offspring, showed no response. We also found that predation selected for smaller and lighter females and for shorter tails and gonopodia in males, with no effect on body colouration. Our results show that while several traits evolve fast under selection on adult predation, several ‘classic’ predation-dependent traits seem unaffected by predation selection. By comparing our experimental results to those from..., , , # Artificial selection for adult predation survival impacts life-history and morphology in guppies (Poecilia reticulata)

[https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.5x69p8ddp](https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.5x69p8ddp)

## Description of the data and file structure

### Files and variables

***note that the file labels are congruent between files and therefore not described extra for every file****

In general: (Rare) empty cells mean missing values as something happened during the measuring process and the value could not be reconstructed. Except for the breeding data in the file 'Life_history_traits' - see below.

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#### File: Experiment_details.xlsx

**Description:** Experimental details are given.

variable labels explained:

* 'generation': generation of selection from 0 (start) to 2 (second generation of artificial selection
* 'replicate': the experiment was run in 3 independent replicates each containing one predation and one control line
* 'sex': males or females
* 'days_*in*exp_tank': num..., , **Changes after May 16, 2025:** 

After a reader has alerted the journal that the code for the analyses was missing from the original Dryad package, we have added a file: \"R_code_life_history_25-09-24.Rmd\"

Alexander Kotrschal, 19.1.2026