Modeling the interplay between plastic tradeoffs and evolution in changing environments

Abstract

Performance tradeoffs are ubiquitous in both ecological and evolutionary modeling, yet are usually postulated and built into fitness and ecological landscapes. But tradeoffs depend on genetic background and evolutionary history, and can themselves evolve. We present a simple model capable of capturing the key feedback loop: evolutionary history shapes tradeoff strength, which, in turn, shapes evolutionary future. One consequence of this feedback is that genomes with identical fitness can have different evolutionary properties, shaped by prior environmental exposure. Another is that, generically, the best adaptations to one environment may evolve in another. Our minimal model highlights the need for analysis of simple models capable of incorporating explicit dependence on environment, and can serve as a rich playground for investigating evolution in multiple or changing environments.