Archetti Marco
Department of Zoology, Oxford University, South Parks Road, OX1 3PS, Oxford, UK.
J Theor Biol. 2009 Feb 7;256(3):479-84. doi: 10.1016/j.jtbi.2008.10.012. Epub 2008 Nov 1.
According to the coevolution theory, autumn colours are a warning signal to insects, signalling the level of chemical defences or availability of nutrients. Because in the original model tree vigour and defences were positively correlated, it is not clear whether signalling would still be stable when they are decoupled, and the fact that weak trees often display bright autumn colours is usually presented as evidence against the coevolution theory. I show that in a theoretical model of insect-tree coevolution, signalling is still stable when vigour and defences are decoupled. Weak trees can signal. Moreover, partial cheating is possible. The different equilibria depend on the importance of vigour and defences against insect attack, of vigour in the production of the signal, and of pleiotropic effects between colour and defences. These results provide precise predictions that can be used for planning future empirical test.
根据协同进化理论，秋天的颜色是对昆虫的一种警告信号，表明化学防御的水平或营养物质的可利用性。因为在最初的模型中，树木活力和防御是正相关的，所以当它们解耦时，信号传递是否仍然稳定尚不清楚，而且弱势树木常常呈现鲜艳的秋天颜色这一事实通常被当作反对协同进化理论的证据。我表明，在昆虫与树木协同进化的理论模型中，当活力和防御解耦时，信号传递仍然稳定。弱势树木可以发出信号。此外，部分欺骗是可能的。不同的平衡取决于活力和防御对昆虫攻击的重要性、活力在信号产生中的作用以及颜色和防御之间的多效性效应。这些结果提供了精确的预测，可用于规划未来的实证检验。
