title: Parasitic exploitation as an engine of diversity.
abstract: Parasitic exploitation occurs within and between a wide variety of taxa in a plethora of diverse contexts. Theoretical and empirical analyses indicate that parasitic exploitation can generate substantial genetic and phenotypic polymorphism within species. Under some circumstances, parasitic exploitation may also be an important factor causing reproductive isolation and promoting speciation. Here we review research relevant to the relationship between parasitic exploitation, within species-polymorphism, and speciation in some of the major arenas in which such exploitation has been studied. This includes research on the vertebrate major histocompatibility loci, plant-pathogen interactions, the evolution of sexual reproduction, intragenomic conflict, sexual conflict, kin mimicry and social parasitism, tropical forest diversity and the evolution of language. We conclude by discussing some of the issues raised by comparing the effect of parasitic exploitation on polymorphism and speciation in different contexts.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC 27858, USA. summersk@mail.ecu.edu
authors.forename: Kyle
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Summers
authors.forename: Sea
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: McKeon
authors.forename: Jon
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sellars
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Keusenkothen
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Morris
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gloeckner
authors.forename: Corey
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pressley
authors.forename: Blake
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Price
authors.forename: Holly
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Snow
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D044822:Biodiversity; D005075:Biological Evolution; D005260:Female; D006790:Host-Parasite Interactions; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010271:Parasites / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D010272:Parasitic Diseases / Q000469:parasitology*; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D012098:Reproduction; D013045:Species Specificity