Abstract

The occurrence and magnitude of disease outbreaks can strongly influence host evolution. In particular, when hosts face a resistance-fecundity trade-off, they might evolve increased resistance to infection during larger epidemics but increased susceptibility during smaller ones. We tested this theoretical prediction by using a zooplankton-yeast host-parasite system in which ecological factors determine epidemic size. Lakes with high productivity and low predation pressure had large yeast epidemics; during these outbreaks, hosts became more resistant to infection. However, with low productivity and high predation, epidemics remained small and hosts evolved increased susceptibility. Thus, by modulating disease outbreaks, ecological context (productivity and predation) shaped host evolution during epidemics. Consequently, anthropogenic alteration of productivity and predation might strongly influence both ecological and evolutionary outcomes of disease.

Links

Publisher Full Text

Authors

Duffy MA, Ochs JH, Penczykowski RM, Civitello DJ, Klausmeier CA, Hall SR

Institution

School of Biology, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332-0230, USA. duffy@gatech.edu

Source

Science (New York, N.Y.) 335:6076 2012 Mar 30 pg 1636-8

MeSH

Animals
Biological Evolution
Daphnia
Ecosystem
Female
Fishes
Host-Pathogen Interactions
Indiana
Lakes
Male
Metschnikowia
Models, Biological
Population Dynamics
Predatory Behavior
Reproduction
Zooplankton

Pub Type(s)

Journal Article
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

Language

eng

PubMed ID

22461614