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Modeling The Genetic Consequences Of Mutualism On Communities, Carrie E. Eaton

Doctoral Dissertations

Three models of coevolutionary dynamics between mutualistically interacting species are developed. The first is a three loci, haploid model describing a general plant-pollinator system, such as Greya moth and its host plant. In this case, the system will always collapse to a single plant type and pollinator type. In a community with an mutant plant type, it is possible for a host-switch to occur, governed by the initial relative abundance plant type and the pollinator choosiness. In addition, genetic diversity can be maintained if the pollinator has no differential host preference, only adaptation to a host. Next, this model is …