Dispersal and spatial heterogeneity allow coexistence between enemies and protective mutualists.

ABSTRACT: Protective mutualisms, where a symbiont reduces the negative effects of another species on a shared host, represent a common type of species interaction in natural communities, yet it is still unclear what ecological conditions might favor their emergence. Studies suggest that the initial evolution of protective mutualists might involve closely related pathogenic variants with similar life histories, but different competitive abilities and impacts on host fitness. We derive a model to evaluate this hypothesis and show that, in general, a protective variant cannot spread from rarity or exclude a more pathogenic strain. While the conditions allowing mutualist invasion are more likely with increased environmental productivity, they still depend on initial densities in the invaded patch exceed

SUBMITTER: Poisot T 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4301050 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature