Red Queen dynamics in nature

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Keywords: frequency-dependent selection, host-parasite co-evolution, Red Queen.

Introduction: The Red Queen coevolutionary hypothesis predicts that parasites drive oscillations in host genotype frequencies due to common host disadvantage. Thus, hosts and parasites could enter into cycling of genotypes, and “run”, yet staying in the same place. However, examples of this phenomenon in natural populations are scarce. To examine if the Red Queen operates in the wild, the genetic structure of Daphnia population will be studied in relation to their infection levels, across a multiple samples of a single lake.

Methods: field study (intensive sampling), molecular work. Learnt skills: field methods, microscopy, molecular work (DNA extraction, PCR, microsatellite markers), genetic analyses, scientific presentation and writing.