Project Details
Projekt
Ecoevolutionary feedbacks of phenotypic plasticity and mono- vs polyclonal communities in bi- and tritrophic systems
Applicants
Professor Dr. Ralph Tollrian; Dr. Linda Carolin Weiss
Subject Area
Ecology and Biodiversity of Animals and Ecosystems, Organismic Interactions
Hydrogeology, Hydrology, Limnology, Urban Water Management, Water Chemistry, Integrated Water Resources Management
Hydrogeology, Hydrology, Limnology, Urban Water Management, Water Chemistry, Integrated Water Resources Management
Term
from 2014 to 2024
Project identifier
Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 257645996
Our project will focus on the effects of individual trait variation (phenotypic plasticity) and genetic trait variation (polyclonal systems) on population, community and trait dynamics in bi- and tri-trophic systems with algae as food, herbivorous ciliates as primary consumer and their ciliate predators. In our system phenotypic plasticity acts on two trophic levels. The ciliates (Euplotes aediculatus and E. octocarinatus) can form phenotypically plastic defences against their predators, which includes a trade-off between defence and competitive strength. Furthermore, we will use different Euplotes strains that differ in their reaction norms of plasticity, growth rates and competitive strength in mono- and polyclonal experiments. Consequently, we study trait variation via plasticity and via shifts in the clonal composition. Additionally, we will use predators that can form inducible offences (Lembadion bullinum), which partly allow to overcome the prey defences, or predators, which do not respond to the prey defences (Stenostomum sphagnetorum). With our system we will address the following hypotheses:1. Trait variation expressed in clone-specific reaction norms (phenotypic plasticity) in different clones on the consumer level promotes the stability and persistence of trophic levels within a tri-trophic system. 2. Polyclonal consumer systems with clone-specific reaction norms of traits increase population stability compared to monoclonal systems.3. Trait variation on the consumer trophic level may stabilize trophic dynamics more than trait variation on two trophic levels (consumer and top predator) within a tri-trophic system depending on the relative speeds of adjustment.Our project will combine empirical experiments and mathematical modelling approaches. It is closely linked to other projects in the SPP but is unique in that we study a tri-trophic system where the predator forms inducible offenses in response to its prey’s inducible defences. Our project will foster the understanding of ecological processes in general and of predator-prey and food web dynamics in particular.
DFG Programme
Priority Programmes
