Spatio-temporal eco-evolutionary dynamics of prey-predator systems with defended and undefended prey

Journal article

The dynamic interplay between evolutionary adaptations and ecological processes has emerged as a key focus for understanding biodiversity and species interactions. In predator-prey dynamics, spatial heterogeneity and eco-evolutionary feedback regulate species co-existence, shaping population stability and persistence. This study emphasizes the importance of integrating ecological and evolutionary perspectives to understand biodiversity maintenance, predator-prey coexistence, and long-term stability of structured ecosystems. We propose a spatial eco-evolutionary mathematical model for the interactions between undefended prey, toxicity-induced aposematic prey, and predators to explore their collective impact on species persistence and spatial organization. In particular, we focus on the roles of free space and the toxicity of defended prey (foraging efficiency). Most previous work neglects these factors and the spatial structure of the interacting species. We begin by conducting a linear stability analysis of the diffusion-free model and then perform a Turing analysis to determine the conditions for diffusion-driven pattern formation. Numerical simulations reveal the emergence of a range of spatio-temporal patterns and demonstrate how these patterns change as ecological and evolutionary factors vary, while also confirming the stability conditions derived analytically. Through this work, we highlight the roles of ecological and evolutionary factors in understanding the spatio-temporal dynamics of eco-evolutionary processes.

Authors: Roy, S; Byrne, HM; Banerjee, J; Sasmal, SK; Dutta, S

• Publication status: Published
• Peer review status: Peer reviewed
• Publisher: Nature Research
• Journal: Communications Physics
• Volume: 9
• Issue: 1
• Article number: 4
• Publication date: 2025-12-01
• Acceptance date: 2025-11-13
• DOI: 10.1038/s42005-025-02434-1
• EISSN: 2399-3650
• ISSN: 2399-3650
• Language: English