Integrated research across disciplines is required to address many of the pressing environmental problems facing human societies. Often integration involves disparate disciplines, including those in biological sciences, and demands collaboration from problem formulation through hypothesis development, data analysis, interpretation, application. Such projects raise conceptual methodological challenges that are new researchers sciences their collaborators other disciplines. In this article, we...

Abstract Questions How does spatial scale (extent and grain) influence the relative importance of different environmental factors as determinants plant community composition? Are there general thresholds that mark transition from primarily edaphic to climatic control communities? Location Global. Methods We surveyed empirical literature identified 89 analyses 63 published studies analysed vegetation–environment relationships involving at least two categories predictor variables (edaphic,...

The amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) technique is being increasingly used in phylogenetic studies, especially groups of rapidly radiating taxa. One the key issues suitability this whether DNA fragments generated via AFLP method are homologous within and among taxa studied. We a bioinformatics approach to assess homology based on both chromosomal location sequence similarity fragments. was electronically simulated genomes from eight organisms that represented range genome sizes....

The yucca–yucca moth interaction is one of the most well-known and remarkable obligate pollination mutualisms, an important study system for understanding coevolution. Previous research suggests that specialist pollinators can promote rapid diversification in plants, theoretical work has predicted mutualism promotes cospeciation between plants their pollinators, resulting contemporaneous, parallel diversification. However, a lack information about age Yucca impeded efforts to test these...

We used flow cytometry and extensive geographic surveys of herbivore attack to test whether repeated evolution autotetraploidy in the perennial herb Heuchera grossulariifolia Rydb. (Saxifragaceae) has created evolutionary barriers by specialist moth Greya politella (Prodoxidae). found that colonized tetraploid as well diploid populations, tetraploids separate origin, and, at least under some conditions, is more likely than diploids. Plant polyploidy therefore provides a potential route out...

Phenotypic plasticity can allow organisms to respond environmental changes by producing better matching phenotypes without any genetic change. Because of this, is predicted be a major mechanism which population survive the initial stage colonizing novel environment. We tested this prediction challenging wild Drosophila melanogaster with increasingly extreme larval environments and then examining expression alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) its relationship survival in first generation encountering...

Abstract Understanding the phylogeography of a species requires not only elucidating patterns genetic structure among populations, but also identifying possible evolutionary events creating that structure. The use single phylogeographic test or analysis, however, usually provides picture without revealing underlying causes. We used current analytical techniques in sequential approach to examine and its causes bogus yucca moth Prodoxus decipiens (Lepidoptera: Prodoxidae). Both historical...

Premise Variation in pollen‐ovule ratios is thought to reflect the degree of pollen transfer efficiency—the more efficient process, fewer grains needed. Few studies have directly examined relationship between ratio and efficiency. For active pollination brood mutualisms yuccas yucca moths, figs fig wasps, senita leafflowers leafflower pollinators purposefully collect place it on stigmatic surface conspecific flowers. The tight coupling insect reproductive interests with flowers which larvae...

Abstract Parasitic taxa span an antagonistic continuum, with some parasites inflicting no fitness costs to that kill the host after feeding. Host‐associated differentiation is postulated as a major process facilitating speciation in many parasitic taxa. Here, I examined importance of host‐associated parasitoid wasp develops on yucca moths genus Prodoxus. Prodoxus are specialists Yucca , and moth closely tied differences microhabitat use within plant among species. Parasitoids Eusandalum have...

Although we have a good understanding of how phenotypic plasticity evolves in response to abiotic environments, know comparatively less about responses biotic interactions. We experimentally tested competition and mutualism affected trait evolution pairwise communities genetically modified brewer’s yeast. quantified evolutionary changes growth rate, resource use efficiency (RUE), their strains evolving alone, with competitor, mutualist. Compared ancestors, alone had lower RUE plasticity....

Obligate pollination mutualisms have been central to our understanding of the ecology and evolution mutualisms. Although usually viewed as pairwise interactions, obligate mutualists also interact with other community members that may impact mutualism. In this study, we examined context mutualism between plant Yucca filamentosa its yucca moth pollinator Tegeticula cassandra determine relationships among traits, assemblage, fruit set. addition attracting pollinator, Y. in Florida attracts two...

One of the major issues in phylogenetic analysis is that gene genealogies from different regions may not reflect true species tree or history speciation. This has led to considerable debate about whether concatenation loci best approach for analysis. The application Next-generation sequencing techniques such as RAD-seq generates thousands relatively short sequence reads across genomes sampled taxa. These data sets are typically concatenated leading contain millions base pairs per taxon....

Recent studies of parasitoid-host interactions have demonstrated that parasitoids and their hosts are geographically structured for traits such as virulence encapsulation defenses, but no yet compared the geographic structure using neutral genetic markers. Such needed to evaluate underlying scale at which these evolve allow assessment relative effects selection gene flow on observed in under selection. We used sequence data from mitochondrial DNA cytochrome oxidase I II subunits document...

Abstract. Yucca moths (Lep., Prodoxidae) are well‐known for their obligate pollination mutualism with yuccas. In addition to the pollinators, yuccas also host many non‐pollinating yucca moths. Here genus Prodoxus , sister group of is revised using morphological and molecular data, phylogenetic relationships analysed, evolution tissue specialization explored. Twenty‐two species recognized, including nine new species: gypsicolor sp.n. P. sonorensis carnerosanellus tamaulipellus weethumpi...

Mutualisms are balanced antagonistic interactions where both species gain a net benefit. Because mutualisms generate resources, they can be exploited by individuals that reap the benefits of interaction without paying any cost. The presence such ‘cheaters’ may have important consequences, yet we only beginning to understand how cheaters evolve from mutualists and their evolution curtailed within mutualistic lineages. yucca–yucca moth pollination mutualism is an excellent model in this...

The interaction between yuccas and yucca moths has been central to understanding the origin loss of obligate mutualism reversal. Previous systematic research using mtDNA sequence data characters associated with genitalic morphology revealed that a widespread pollinator species in genus Tegeticula was fact complex differed host use placement eggs into flowers. Within this mutualistic clade two nonpollinating “cheater” evolved. Cheaters feed on seeds but lack tentacular mouthparts necessary...

The yucca moths (Tegeticula and Parategeticula; Lepidoptera, Prodoxidae) are well known for their obligate relationship as exclusive pollinators of yuccas. Revisionary work in recent years has revealed far higher species diversity than historically recognized, increasing the number described from four to 20. Based on field surveys Mexico examination collections, we describe five additional species: T. californica Pellmyr sp. nov., tehuacana & Balcázar-Lara tambasi baja nov. P. ecdysiastica...

PREMISE OF THE STUDY: Specialized brood pollination systems involve both mutualism and antagonism in the overall interaction have led to diversification plants insects. Although largely known for mutualism, role of antagonistic side these has been overlooked. Specialization may be driven by plant defenses feeding insect larvae that consume kill developing ovules. The among yuccas yucca moths is cited as a classic example importance specialization diversification. Pollinators are very host...