Dispersal stabilizes coupled ecological and evolutionary dynamics in a host-parasitoid system. (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38484053/)

These scientists wanted to understand how different bugs, like aphids and parasitoid wasps, can live together and stay healthy in nature. They did a study where they looked at how aphids can evolve to resist being eaten by the parasitoid wasps. They collected data from fields and used computer simulations to see how the bugs interacted with each other.

They found that when the parasitoid wasps moved around in different ways, it affected how the aphids evolved to resist them. By doing experiments, they discovered that when the aphids had to make choices between evolving to resist the wasps or moving to a new place, it helped both bugs stay alive and keep their populations diverse.

Overall, the scientists learned that when bugs move around and evolve in response to each other, it helps them both stay healthy and keep their populations strong.

Nell LA., Kishinevsky M., Bosch MJ., Sinclair C., Bhat K., Ernst N., Boulaleh H., Oliver KM., Ives AR. Dispersal stabilizes coupled ecological and evolutionary dynamics in a host-parasitoid system. Science. 2024 Mar 15;383(6688):1240-1244. doi: 10.1126/science.adg4602. Epub 2024 Mar 14.