Destabilized host-parasite dynamics in newly founded populations.

ABSTRACT: When species disperse into previously unoccupied habitats, new populations encounter unfamiliar species interactions such as altered parasite loads. Theory predicts that newly founded populations should exhibit destabilized eco-evolutionary fluctuations in infection rates and immune traits. However, to understand founder effects biologists typically rely on retrospective studies of range expansions, missing early-generation infection dynamics. To remedy this, we experimentally founded whole-lake populations of threespine stickleback. Infection rates were temporally stable in native source lakes. In contrast, newly founded populations exhibit destabilized host-parasite dynamics: high starting infection rates led to increases in a heritable immune trait (peritoneal fibrosis), suppressing inf

SUBMITTER: Bolnick DI 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11230150 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature