Evolutionary rescue in a host-pathogen system results in coexistence not clearance.

ABSTRACT: The evolutionary rescue of host populations may prevent extinction from novel pathogens. However, the conditions that facilitate rapid evolution of hosts, in particular the population variation in host susceptibility, and the effects of host evolution in response to pathogens on population outcomes remain largely unknown. We constructed an individual-based model to determine the relationships between genetic variation in host susceptibility and population persistence in an amphibian-fungal pathogen (Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis) system. We found that host populations can rapidly evolve reduced susceptibility to a novel pathogen and that this rapid evolution led to a 71-fold increase in the likelihood of host-pathogen coexistence. However, the increased rates of coexistence came at

SUBMITTER: Christie MR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5979755 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature