Evolution of Form and Function

A fundamental premise of evolution is that fitness of organisms depends on the survival and reproductive success of phenotypes in the environment. Since the modern synthesis, the study of evolution has focused heavily on the genetic component of fitness. However, selection acts directly on the phenotype. In the context of Predator-Prey Interactions, the integrative complex of morphological, behavioral, and physiological traits of both predators and prey determines their functional relationship.

At the 2022 GRC on Predator-Prey Interactions, we plan to focus on the phenotypic understanding of fitness, in a functionally integrative way. We aim to understand forms, designs and strategies that may represent optimal solutions in specific or multiple environments. These include the biomechanics of escape, hunting, and killing, the morphological adaptations for camouflage and masquerade, and the trade-offs incurred with adaptations to win the predator-prey arms race. We also plan to discuss the ways in which the extended phenotypes of organisms, such as spider webs and hunting tools, shape the interactions between predators and prey. Integral to phenotypic adaptations is cognition; and thus, we will think about sensory ecology, stress physiology, and the cognition behind recognizing prey and responding to predators. Our sessions on cognition will include how prey trick or deceive predators, as well as how predators manage prey to maximize success at various spatial and temporal scales. We also plan to better understand how diseases and viruses shape the predator-prey interaction. Finally, we will scale from individual-level responses to groups, and examine some of the emergent properties of collective movement. By focusing on evolution and understanding the relation between form, function and adaptation, this meeting will focus on identifying general rules of optimization at different scales and in different systems.

Note: There is funding available to help support Early Career Researchers to attend the GRC and GRS.