Abstract
Molecular phylogenies can be used to test hypotheses of cospedation between hosts and parasites by comparing both cladistic relationships and branch lengths. Molecular data can also help discriminate between competing reconstructions of the history of the host-parasite as- sodation. Methods for comparing sequence divergence in hosts and parasites are described and applied to data for pocket gophers and their chewing lice. The hypothesis of cospedation between these two clades is strongly supported. The lengths of homologous branches in the gopher and louse phylogenies are positively correlated, but there is little support for the hypothesis that lice are evolving an order of magnitude faster than are their hosts. (Cospedation; component analysis; DNA sequences; molecular clock; phylogeny; rates of evolution; tree comparison; pocket gophers; chewing lice; Geomys; Orthogeomys; Pappogeomys; Thomomys; Geotnydoecus; Thomomydoecus.)
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
