Population mixing accelerates coevolution

Michael A. Brockhurst, Andrew D. Morgan, Paul B. Rainey, Angus Buckling*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Theory predicts that mixing in spatially structured populations of hosts and parasites can increase the rate of antagonistic coevolution. We experimentally tested this prediction by allowing populations of bacteria (Pseudomonas fluorescens) and parasitic bacteriophage to coevolve in mixed and unmixed microcosms. Coevolution proceeded at approximately twice the rate in mixed populations compared with unmixed populations and caused the evolution of more resistant hosts and more infective parasites.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)975-979
Number of pages5
JournalEcology Letters
Volume6
Issue number11
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Nov 2003

Keywords

  • Arms-race
  • Bacteria
  • Bacteriophage
  • Experimental evolution
  • Infectivity
  • Resistance
  • Virulence

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