Weevils and camellias in a Darwin’s race: model system for the study of eco-evolutionary interactions between species |
| |
Authors: | Hirokazu Toju |
| |
Institution: | (1) Hakubi Center, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan;(2) Present address: Division of Biological Science, Graduate School of Science, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8502, Japan |
| |
Abstract: | Organisms are surrounded by their predators, parasites, hosts, and mutualists, being involved in reciprocal adaptation processes
with such “biotic environment”. The concept of “coevolution”, therefore, provides a basis for the comprehensive understanding
of evolutionary and ecological dynamics in biological communities and ecosystems. Recent studies have shown that coevolutionary
processes are spatially heterogeneous and that traits mediating interspecific interactions can evolve rapidly in natural communities.
Here, I discuss factors promoting the geographic differentiation of coevolutionary interactions, the spatial scales of the
geographic structuring, and the pace of coevolutionary changes, reviewing findings in the arms race coevolution involving
a long-mouthed weevil and its host camellia plant. Evolutionary, ecological, and population genetic studies on the system
illuminated that viewpoints from the aspect of “coevolving biosphere” were important for predicting how ongoing anthropogenic
change in global environment alter the spatiotemporal dynamics of biological communities. |
| |
Keywords: | |
本文献已被 SpringerLink 等数据库收录! |
|