The eco-evolutionary dynamics of strategic species

Abstract

Much research has in recent years been devoted to better our understanding of the intricate relationships between ecology and the evolutionary success of species. These explorations have often focused on understanding the complex interplay among ecological factors and evolutionary rhythms of the species in various environments. Central to these studies is the concept of the survival of the fittest, proposed by Charles Darwin, where evolutionary circumstances, often portrayed as social dilemmas, favour the welfare of self-interested over others. To further advance this line of research, we here develop a theoretical framework that features three interconnected traits in an evolutionary setting, namely: prey, predator and parasite, each adopting distinct strategies akin to a social dilemma and resembling a Rock-Paper-Scissors scenario. These traits, which we term strategic species, adhere to the eco-evolutionary game dynamics. We further extend our analysis by conducting a sensitivity assessment of the system’s payoff parameters using the Sobol indices.