A Computational Ecological Genetic Model of Phenotypic Plasticity in Species Interactions.

ABSTRACT: Multiple species respond to each other in their co-existing communities. Such reciprocal phenotypic plasticity can shape the behaviour and evolution of ecological communities, but its genetic architecture remains elusive. We address this issue by developing a computational mapping model that combines community ecology and quantitative genetics into a unifying context. Culturing a pair of genotypes from two species in a socially isolated environment (monoculture) and a socialised environment (co-culture) allows for the quantitative estimation of reciprocal phenotypic plasticity, that is, the difference between trait values of one (defensive) species expressed in the monoculture and the co-culture with the other (offensive) species. Classic quantitative genetic theory is implemented to map g

SUBMITTER: Wang Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12770817 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature