A paradox of parasite resistance: disease-driven trophic cascades increase the cost of resistance, selecting for lower resistance with parasites than without them

• Published in: Evolutionary ecology Vol. 37; no. 1; pp. 53 - 74
• Main Authors: Walsman, Jason C., Strauss, Alexander T., Hite, Jessica L., Shocket, Marta S., Hall, Spencer R.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cham Springer International Publishing 01.02.2023; Springer; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Algae; Analysis; Animal Ecology; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Disease resistance; Ecology; Economic aspects; Epidemics; Evolution; Evolutionary Biology; Experiments; Fecundity; Life Sciences; Original Paper; Parasite resistance; Parasites; Plant Sciences; Zooplankton; Cost of resistance; Resistance evolution; Trophic cascade; Host–parasite interactions

Most evolutionary theory predicts that, during epidemics, hosts will evolve higher resistance to parasites that kill them. Here, we provide an alternative to that typical expectation, with an explanation centered on resource feedbacks. When resistance is costly, hosts evolve decreasing resistance wi...