A keystone gene underlies the persistence of an experimental food web

Genes encode information that determines an organism's fitness. Yet we know little about whether genes of one species influence the persistence of interacting species in an ecological community. Here, we experimentally tested the effect of three plant defense genes on the persistence of an insect food web and found that a single allele at a single gene promoted coexistence by increasing plant growth rate, which in turn increased the intrinsic growth rates of species across multiple trophic levels. Our discovery of a keystone gene illustrates the need to bridge between biological scales, from genes to ecosystems, to understand community persistence.

Automated summary

This study reveals that genes of one species can affect the persistence of interacting species in an ecological community. The experiment shows that plant defense genes can promote coexistence by increasing plant growth rate, leading to higher intrinsic growth rates of species across multiple trophic levels.