The Coevolutionary ProcessTraditional ecological approaches to species evolution have frequently studied too few species, relatively small areas, and relatively short time spans. In The Coevolutionary Process, John N. Thompson advances a new conceptual approach to the evolution of species interactions—the geographic mosaic theory of coevolution. Thompson demonstrates how an integrated study of life histories, genetics, and the geographic structure of populations yields a broader understanding of coevolution, or the development of reciprocal adaptations and specializations in interdependent species. Using examples of species interactions from an enormous range of taxa, Thompson examines how and when extreme specialization evolves in interdependent species and how geographic differences in specialization, adaptation, and the outcomes of interactions shape coevolution. Through the geographic mosaic theory, Thompson bridges the gap between the study of specialization and coevolution in local communities and the study of broader patterns seen in comparisons of the phylogenies of interacting species. |
Contents
Overview | xi |
Specialization within Darwins Entangled Bank | 5 |
From the Entangled Bank to the Evolutionary Synthesis | 21 |
Specialization and Coevolution since the Evolutionary Synthesis | 34 |
Phylogeny of Specialization | 57 |
Evolutionary Genetics of Specialization | 75 |
Ontogeny of Specialization | 100 |
Why Parasitism Is Special | 119 |
Further Limitations on Specialization in Mutualisms | 184 |
Genetics of Coevolution | 201 |
The Geographic Mosaic Theory of Coevolution | 217 |
Diversifying Coevolution | 237 |
Asymmetries in Specialization and Coevolution | 251 |
Pushing the Limits of Coevolution | 274 |
The Geographic Mosaic in Evolving Interactions | 286 |
Specialization Coevolution and Conservation | 290 |
Choosing among Multiple Victims | 132 |
Coping with Multiple Enemies The Geography of Defense | 151 |
Extreme Specialization in Mutualists | 165 |
Literature Cited | 294 |
Index | 339 |
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Common terms and phrases
adaptive alleles animals ants aphids argued associations attack bees beetles biology birds butterflies character displacement cies coevolution coevolutionary process coevolve communities competition complex crossbills cuckoos defenses diet distribution dynamics ecology effects eggs environments evolution of specialization evolutionary evolutionary ecology evolving interactions extreme specialists extreme specialization favor feed females fig wasps floral flowers free-living fruits gene flow gene-for-gene genera genetic drift genotypes genus geographic mosaic geographic range geographic structure grazers Greya herbivores host species hypothesis individuals insects interac interspecific larvae least lifestyle lineages Lomatium major mimicry morphology morphs mutualisms mutualistic natural selection nectar nests occur orchid outcomes oviposition pairs of species Papilio parasites pathogens patterns of specialization Pellmyr phylogenetic phylogeny phytophagous plant species pollinators polymorphisms predators produce reciprocal reciprocal evolution relationships reproduction resistance result rhizobia seeds single host specializa specialization and coevolution speciation studies suggest symbionts taxa Thompson tion tropical variation visitors yucca moths zelicaon
Popular passages
Page 307 - Hawksworth, DL 1988. The variety of fungal-algal symbioses, their evolutionary significance, and the nature of lichens.