The Coevolutionary Process

About this book

Advanced a conceptual approach to the evolution of species interactions - the geographic mosaic theory of coevolution. Using examples of species interactions from an enormous range of taxa, Thompson examines how and when extreme specialization evolves in interdependent species and how geographic differences in specialization, adaptation, and the outcomes of interactions shape coevolution. Through the geographic mosaic theory, Thompson creates connections between the study of specialization and coevolution in local communities and the study of broader patterns seen in comparisons of the phylogenies of interacting species. Thus in one volume Thompson has overcome many of the problems associated with this discipline - chiefly, too few species and areas covered, and short time spans, and provided a valuable addition, not only to evolutionary biology, but also to plant and animal ecology, animal behaviour, and conservation biology.

Contents

Part I. The Entangled Bank1 Specialization within Darwin's Entangled Bank 2 From the Entangled Bank to the Evolutionary Synthesis 3 Specialization and Coevolution since the Evolutionary Synthesis Part II. The Evolution of Specialization 4 Phylogeny of Specialization 5 Evolutionary Genetics of Specialization 6 Ontogeny of Specialization Part III. Natural Selection and the Geographic Structure of Specialization 7 Why Parasitism is Special 8 Choosing among Multiple Victims 9 Coping with Multiple Enemies: The Geography of Defense 10 Extreme Specialization in Mutualists 11 Further Limitations on Specialization in Mutualisms Part IV. Specialization and Coevolution 12 Genetics of Coevolution 13 The Geographic Mosaic Theory of Coevolution 14 Diversifying Coevolution 15 Asymmetries in Specialization and Coevolution 16 Pushing the Limits of Coevolution

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