Dissertation Research: Interaction Between Attalea Palms and Bruchid Beetles: Geographic Variation in Reciprocal Selection

当两个物种相互影响彼此的进化时，就会发生共同进化。共同进化关系因地区而异；一个物种可以在一个地方对其他物种的进化产生强烈的影响，但在另一个地方却没有。因此，在一些地方，一个物种的特征很好地适应了其他物种的特征，而它们在其他物种中却适应得很差。这是共同进化的地理马赛克理论的基础。这项研究将通过量化由相互作用形成的特征（决定棕榈树和bruchids的适合度），来检验玻利维亚各地Attalea棕榈树和它们的主要种子捕食者bruchid甲虫之间共同进化相互作用的地理结构。这是第一个旨在评估自然选择中的地理差异如何影响热带系统中共同进化物种之间性状的相互进化反应的研究。在景观改变和外来物种的引入导致数千种物种的地理结构发生快速变化的情况下，它为理解不同种群的共同进化提供了一个新的框架。该项目将建立圣路易斯大学与玻利维亚大学和研究机构之间的合作。该项目将为本科生提供获得研究经验和丰富生物学教育的机会。

Coevolution occurs when two species reciprocally affect each other's evolution. Coevolutionary relationships vary among localities; one species can have a strong effect on the others' evolution in one locality but not in another. Consequently, in some localities, traits of one species are well adapted to traits of the other species whereas they are poorly adapted in others. This is the basis for the geographic mosaic theory of coevolution. This study will examine the geographic structure of the coevolutionary interaction between Attalea palms and their main seed predator, bruchid beetles across Bolivia by quantifying traits -shaped by the interaction- that determine the fitness of both palms and bruchids. This is the first study that aims to assess how geographic variation in natural selection influences reciprocal evolutionary responses in traits between coevolving species in a tropical system. It provides a new framework for understanding coevolution in different populations at a time when the geographic structure of thousands of species is changing rapidly due to landscape modifications and the introduction of exotic species. This project will build collaborations between Saint Louis University and Bolivian Universities and research Institutions. The project will offer opportunities to undergraduate students to gain research experience and enrich their education in biology.