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The extent to which specialisation will evolve within predator populations ultimately depends on the interplay of genetic and environmental factors. A key problem is therefore to identify the processes that allow genetic variation to persist by preventing the emergence of a superior generalist predator that can outcompete others across all prey types 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.ĭiversity within predator populations can be maintained if different prey types or species impose different selective pressures, such that different variants of a predator species could evolve to specialise on different prey. However, intraspecific variation in predator traits is widespread 1.
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Consequently, mutations that improve predatory performance would be expected to rapidly spread through a predator population, eroding genetic variation within species. The fitness of individuals within a predator species should be closely tied to their relative ability to convert prey resources into the production of progeny. This highlights the potential for prey-specific effects to dilute selection, which would inhibit the purging of variation and prevent the emergence of an optimal generalist predator. Most mutations (~77%) had prey-specific effects, with very few (~4%) showing antagonistic pleiotropy. To understand the genetic basis, we developed methods for high throughput experimental evolution on different prey (REMI-seq). We found widespread nontransitive differences among strains in predatory success across different bacterial prey, which can facilitate stain coexistence in multi-prey environments. To understand the relative importance of these alternatives, we characterised natural variation in predatory performance in the microbial predator Dictyostelium discoideum. Two genetic solutions could explain why intraspecific variation in predatory performance is, nonetheless, widespread: mutations beneficial on one prey type are costly on another (antagonistic pleiotropy), or mutational effects are prey-specific, which weakens selection, allowing variation to persist (relaxed selection). Natural selection should favour generalist predators that outperform specialists across all prey types.