The development of resource polymorphism – Effects of diet, predation risk and population dynamical feedbacks

Sammanfattning: This thesis deals with the evolution of individuals within a species adapted to utilize specific resources, i.e. resource polymorphism. Although a well-known phenomenon, the understanding of the mechanisms behind is not complete. Considering the ruling theories, resource polymorphism is suggested to depend on severe competition for resources, the presence of open niches to be occupied leading to a reduction in competition, and disruptive selection where generalist are out-competed due trade-offs in foraging efficiency for different prey. In order to study resource polymorphism, I have used fish as the animal group in focus and the methods I have used range over laboratory experiments, field experiments, literature surveys and theoretical modelling.In my work, I have showed that different resource use induces different body shapes and that the rate of change is dependent of the encounter rate of different resources. The induced body changes partly led to increased foraging efficiency but surprisingly I did not find any trade-offs due to specialization. However, when studying predation risk in relation to resource polymorphism, my studies point towards that resource use and predation risk may act as balancing factors in such a way that disruptive selection can take place.My work also shows that population feedbacks have to be explored when considering the evolution of resource polymorphism. In pond and field experiments, I found that changes in resource densities affected the actual resource use despite previous adaptations to certain resources. By performing a literature survey, I found that cannibalism indirectly by its effect on population dynamics seems to facilitate the evolution of resource polymorphism. Modelling a size-structured population, I found that resource dynamics were stabilized, and the relative availability of different resources was levelled out due to cannibalism.Taken together, my studies strongly suggest that to understand the development of resource polymorphism in consumer populations, future studies have to include the effect of a dynamic environment both with respect to resources and predators.