The geographic mosaic of arms race coevolution is closely matched to prey population structure.

ABSTRACT: Reciprocal adaptation is the hallmark of arms race coevolution. Local coadaptation between natural enemies should generate a geographic mosaic pattern where both species have roughly matched abilities across their shared range. However, mosaic variation in ecologically relevant traits can also arise from processes unrelated to reciprocal selection, such as population structure or local environmental conditions. We tested whether these alternative processes can account for trait variation in the geographic mosaic of arms race coevolution between resistant garter snakes (Thamnophis sirtalis) and toxic newts (Taricha granulosa). We found that predator resistance and prey toxin levels are functionally matched in co-occurring populations, suggesting that mosaic variation in the ar

SUBMITTER: Hague MTJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7403720 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature