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Coevolutionary transitions from antagonism to mutualism explained by the Co-Opted Antagonist Hypothesis

Author

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  • Christopher A. Johnson

    (University of Arizona
    Institute of Integrative Biology, ETH Zürich
    Princeton University)

  • Gordon P. Smith

    (University of Arizona
    Cornell University)

  • Kelsey Yule

    (University of Arizona
    Biodiversity Knowledge Integration Center, Arizona State University)

  • Goggy Davidowitz

    (University of Arizona)

  • Judith L. Bronstein

    (University of Arizona)

  • Régis Ferrière

    (University of Arizona
    Institut de Biologie de l’ENS (IBENS), École Normale Supérieure CNRS UMR 8197
    iGLOBES International Research Laboratory, École Normale Supérieure, Université Paris Sciences & Lettres CNRS UMI 3157, University of Arizona)

Abstract

There is now good evidence that many mutualisms evolved from antagonism; why or how, however, remains unclear. We advance the Co-Opted Antagonist (COA) Hypothesis as a general mechanism explaining evolutionary transitions from antagonism to mutualism. COA involves an eco-coevolutionary process whereby natural selection favors co-option of an antagonist to perform a beneficial function and the interacting species coevolve a suite of phenotypic traits that drive the interaction from antagonism to mutualism. To evaluate the COA hypothesis, we present a generalized eco-coevolutionary framework of evolutionary transitions from antagonism to mutualism and develop a data-based, fully ecologically-parameterized model of a small community in which a lepidopteran insect pollinates some of its larval host plant species. More generally, our theory helps to reconcile several major challenges concerning the mechanisms of mutualism evolution, such as how mutualisms evolve without extremely tight host fidelity (vertical transmission) and how ecological context influences evolutionary outcomes, and vice-versa.

Suggested Citation

  • Christopher A. Johnson & Gordon P. Smith & Kelsey Yule & Goggy Davidowitz & Judith L. Bronstein & Régis Ferrière, 2021. "Coevolutionary transitions from antagonism to mutualism explained by the Co-Opted Antagonist Hypothesis," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 12(1), pages 1-11, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:12:y:2021:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-021-23177-x
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-23177-x
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    Cited by:

    1. Ajinkya Dahake & Piyush Jain & Caleb C. Vogt & William Kandalaft & Abraham D. Stroock & Robert A. Raguso, 2022. "A signal-like role for floral humidity in a nocturnal pollination system," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-19, December.

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