Abstract
Ecological and evolutionary processes shape the dynamics of interacting species, yet the drivers of eco-evolutionary feedback remain elusive. Here, we developed an individual-based model of a coevolving predator-prey-parasite system, in which predators can be infected by trophically transmitted parasites. With this setup we combined host-parasite coevolution with host-predator interactions, hence integrating evolutionary and ecological processes. We show that species coexist when parasite-mediated selection is weak on both the predator and the prey. The abundance and genotypic diversity of the hosts are highest at the intermediate parasite-mediated selection on the predator but not on the prey. Interestingly, we show that the evolution of super-resistant genotypes, where host genotypes have resistant alleles in all loci, is driven by interspecific interactions rather than the abundance of the focal species. Overall, host-parasite coevolution shapes the direction of interspecific ecological interactions which, in turn, determine species coexistence and community diversity in a complex system.
Competing Interest Statement
The authors have declared no competing interest.