Limiting cheaters in mutualism: evidence from hybridization between mutualist and cheater yucca moths.

ABSTRACT: Mutualisms are balanced antagonistic interactions where both species gain a net benefit. Because mutualisms generate resources, they can be exploited by individuals that reap the benefits of the interaction without paying any cost. The presence of such 'cheaters' may have important consequences, yet we are only beginning to understand how cheaters evolve from mutualists and how their evolution may be curtailed within mutualistic lineages. The yucca-yucca moth pollination mutualism is an excellent model in this context as there have been two origins of cheating from within the yucca moth lineage. We used nuclear and mitochondrial DNA markers to examine genetic structure in a moth population where a cheater species is parapatric with a resident pollinator. The results revealed extensive hybr

SUBMITTER: Segraves KA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC1559949 | biostudies-literature | 2005 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature