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A geographic mosaic of trophic interactions and selection: trees, aphids and birds
Author(s) -
SMITH D. S.,
BAILEY J. K.,
SHUSTER S. M.,
WHITHAM T. G.
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
journal of evolutionary biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.289
H-Index - 128
eISSN - 1420-9101
pISSN - 1010-061X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1420-9101.2010.02178.x
Subject(s) - biology , gall , aphid , abundance (ecology) , predation , ecology , trophic level , fecundity , natural selection , selection (genetic algorithm) , botany , population , sociology , demography , artificial intelligence , computer science
Genetic variation in plants is known to influence arthropod assemblages and species interactions. However, these influences may be contingent upon local environmental conditions. Here, we examine how plant genotype‐based trophic interactions and patterns of natural selection change across environments. Studying the cottonwood tree, Populus angustifolia , the galling aphid, Pemphigus betae and its avian predators, we used three common gardens across an environmental gradient to examine the effects of plant genotype on gall abundance, gall size, aphid fecundity and predation rate on galls. Three patterns emerged: (i) plant genotype explained variation in gall abundance and predation, (ii) G×E explained variation in aphid fecundity, and environment explained variation in gall abundance and gall size, (iii) natural selection on gall size changed from directional to stabilizing across environments.