Evolution under predation pressure: an experimental approach in guppies (Poecilia reticulata)

Summary

This thesis explores how predation influences the evolution of traits such as life history, morphology, and cognition in animals. Using Trinidadian guppies, we conducted experiments to examine how living under the threat of predators shapes these traits. We found that predation pressure leads to the evolution of larger and more offspring, changes in body morphology that may enhance escape performance, and faster but less ‘complex’ learning abilities. Additionally, we developed a new method to test cognition in the wild and showed that adapting cognitive testing methods to the ecology of the tested animal can reveal complex cognitive skills. This work highlights the complex ways in which predation drives the diversity we see in nature and can provide insights into how species may adapt to changing environments.