Growing theoretical evidence suggests that spatial structure, the non-random mixing of organisms in space, can have significant evolutionary consequences. Simulations have shown that spatially restricted dispersal distances can constrain the evolution of exploitative interactions. To date, the majority of research has focused on pathogens where spatial structure at the level of individual hosts leads to the evolution of intermediate transmission rates. While this type of spatial structure is appropriate for pathogens, other types of predators are typically subject to larger-scale spatial structure where organisms mix randomly within subpopulations but not between. In this context, in addition to dispersal distances, the rate of dispersal between subpopulations is likely to have evolutionary consequences. Here we use a metapopulation model to investigate how predator and prey dispersal rates affect the evolution of the predator’s attack rate. We use stochastic simulations of the canonical Lotka-Volterra predator-prey model allowing the predator’s attack rate to evolve by random mutation events. 

Results/Conclusions

We find that given spatially restricted predator and prey dispersal, higher migration rates lead to the evolution of higher predator attack rates. In essence, spatial structure induces a tradeoff between a predator’s competitive ability and its persistence in the population. Higher migration rates select traits that increase competitive ability and lower migration rates select traits that increase persistence.