Effect of spatial connectivity on host resistance in a highly fragmented natural pathosystem.

ABSTRACT: Both theory and experimental evolution studies predict migration to influence the outcome of antagonistic coevolution between hosts and their parasites, with higher migration rates leading to increased diversity and evolutionary potential. Migration rates are expected to vary in spatially structured natural pathosystems, yet how spatial structure generates variation in coevolutionary trajectories across populations occupying the same landscape has not been tested. Here, we studied the effect of spatial connectivity on host evolutionary potential in a natural pathosystem characterized by a stable Plantago lanceolata host network and a highly dynamic Podosphaera plantaginis parasite metapopulation. We designed a large inoculation experiment to test resistance of five isolated and five well-c

SUBMITTER: Hockerstedt LM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6032904 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature