Complex eco-evolutionary dynamics induced by the coevolution of predator–prey movement strategies

The coevolution of predators and prey has been the subject of much empirical and theoretical research, which has produced intriguing insights into the intricacies of eco-evolutionary dynamics. Mechanistically detailed models are rare, however, because the simultaneous consideration of individual-level behaviour (on which natural selection is acting) and the resulting ecological patterns is challenging and typically prevents mathematical analysis. Here we present an individual-based simulation model for the coevolution of predators and prey on a fine-grained resource landscape. Throughout their lifetime, predators and prey make repeated movement decisions on the basis of heritable and evolvable movement strategies. We show that these strategies evolve rapidly, inducing diverse ecological patterns like spiral waves and static spots. Transitions between these patterns occur frequently, induced by coevolution rather than by external events. Regularly, evolution leads to the emergence and stable coexistence of qualitatively different movement strategies. Although the strategy space considered is continuous, we often observe discrete variation. Accordingly, our model includes features of both population genetic and quantitative genetic approaches to coevolution. The model demonstrates that the inclusion of a richer ecological structure and higher number of evolutionary degrees of freedom results in even richer eco-evolutionary dynamics than anticipated previously.