Eco-evolutionary feedback promotes Red Queen dynamics and selects for sex in predator populations

Although numerous hypotheses exist to explain the overwhelming presence of sexual reproduction across the tree of life, we still cannot explain its prevalence when considering all inherent costs involved. The Red Queen hypothesis states that sex is maintained because it can create novel genotypes with a selective advantage. This occurs when the interactions between species induce frequent environmental change. Here we investigate whether coevolution and eco-evolutionary feedback dynamics in a predator-prey system allows for indirect selection and maintenance of sexual reproduction in the predator. Combining models and chemostat experiments of a rotifer-algae system we show a continuous feedback between population and trait change along with recurrent shifts from selection by predation and competition for a limited resource. We found that a high propensity for sex was indirectly selected and was maintained in rotifer populations within environments containing these eco-evolutionary dynam...尽管学界已提出诸多假说，用以解释有性生殖在整个生命之树上的广泛存在，但综合考量其所有内在代价后，我们仍无法阐明其为何如此普遍。红皇后假说（Red Queen hypothesis）提出，有性生殖得以维持，是因为其能够产生具有选择优势的全新基因型；这一过程发生在物种间相互作用引发频繁环境变化之时。本文探究捕食者-猎物系统中的协同进化与生态-进化反馈动力学（eco-evolutionary feedback dynamics），能否为捕食者种群中的有性生殖提供间接选择并维持其存在。结合轮虫-藻类（rotifer-algae）恒化器（chemostat）模型与实验，我们发现种群与性状变化间存在持续反馈，同时伴随由捕食选择与有限资源竞争引发的周期性选择偏移。我们发现，高有性生殖倾向受到间接选择，并在包含此类生态-进化动态的环境中的轮虫种群中得以维持。