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Summary: Molecular Ecology (2006) doi: 10.1111/j.1365-294X.2006.03092.x
© 2006 The Authors
Journal compilation © 2006 Blackwell Publishing Ltd
Blackwell Publishing Ltd
From genes to geography: a genetic similarity rule for
arthropod community structure at multiple geographic
scales
R. K. BANGERT,* G. J. ALLAN,* R. J. TUREK, G. M. WIMP,* N. MENESES,* G. D. MARTINSEN,*§
P. KEIM* and T. G. WHITHAM*
*Department of Biological Sciences, PO Box 5640, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ 86011-5640, USA, Department of
Mathematics and Statistics; PO Box 5717, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ 86011-5640, USA
Abstract
We tested the hypothesis that leaf modifying arthropod communities are correlated with
cottonwood host plant genetic variation from local to regional scales. Although recent
studies found that host plant genetic composition can structure local dependent herbivore
communities, the abiotic environment is a stronger factor than the genetic effect at increasingly
larger spatial scales. In contrast to these studies we found that dependent arthropod
community structure is correlated with both the cross type composition of cottonwoods
and individual genotypes within local rivers up to the regional scale of 720 000 km2 (Four
Corner States region in the southwestern USA). Across this geographical extent comprising
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