Eutrophication‐driven eco‐evolutionary dynamics indicated by differences in stoichiometric traits among populations of Daphnia pulicaria

Microevolution can have consequences at higher levels of ecological organization. Although divergence among populations be rapid and driven by anthropogenic changes to the environment, relevance evolution induced human activities remains poorly understood. A frequent way in which drive microevolution is increase supply nutrients such as phosphorus (P) that are required for fitness-relevant traits growth reproduction. Because P concentrations decrease P-use efficiency feeding rate heterotrophic consumers Daphnia, we hypothesized adjustments should alter consumer–resource dynamics. We examined how cultural eutrophication temperate lakes causes trait variation grazer Daphnia pulicaria. tested genetic metabolic enzyme phosphoglucose isomerase (Pgi) each known respond eutrophication. then impact this on dynamics using a combination experiments multi-lake survey. found from hypereutrophic responded experimental conditions with increased rates fecundity when raised P-fertilized seston, but had reduced performance P-poor seston relative eutrophic source Daphnia. These results suggest may face trade-off low versus excess mediated part Pgi locus. The observed laboratory scaled up both mesocosm lakes. In experiment lake survey, reached high biomass while phytoplankton also remained high. Given prevalence freshwater ecosystems worldwide, these indicate considering potential effects evolutionary change ecosystem models could useful forecasting environmental pivotal services.