Question

1. How does the geographic mosaic theory of coevolution explain why some places have higher levels of biodiversity than others

2. African honeyguides are brood parasites. Take a look at the eggs of different host birds and compare to the egg of the African honeyguide.

Which of the following host birds do you predict have been a host for the shortest amount of time?

Why?

3. Do you think that a toxic species and the non-toxic species that mimics it are mutualists or antagonists? Why?

Answer 1

1) Coevolution is a keypoint of contact between evolution and ecology. In the sense that organisms themselves must be considered an important part of the environment that exerts selective pressure upon all species.

The geographic mosaic theory of coevolution predict that divergent coevolutionary selection produces genetic differentiation across population. Spatially diverged selection trajectories which have generated variable outcomes in the interaction traits among the population. This hold for both mutualistic interactions. Such as those between host plantscand their root symbionts or plant and their pollinators, as well as for antagonistic interactions such as plant and their pathogens or herbivores. It is the strength of selection that varies across landscapes. Variation may be generated by both physical environment and local community - competitors, parasites and alternative host that intensify for a wide range of species interactions. At its extreme, selection trajectories may be reversed with an antagonistic interaction being commensalistic in some populations and mutualistic in yet others depending on the local community context.

Geographic location and community ecology shape differing coevolution between strongly interacting species in multiple populations. These population may be separated by a space or time.