THE POTENTIAL FOR COEVOLUTION IN A HOST-PARASITOID SYSTEM .2. GENETIC-VARIATION WITHIN A POPULATION OF WASPS IN THE ABILITY TO PARASITIZE AN APHID HOST

Much of the study of coevolution has focused on the adaptations that h ave resulted from interactions between species. For reciprocal evoluti on to occur, there must be genetic variation in each species for trait s that directly affect their interaction. Here I report evidence of si gnificant additive genetic variance within a population of parasitic w asps in the ability to successfully parasitize an aphid host. These da ta, combined with companion work documenting clonal variation in a pop ulation of aphids from the same site, provide evidence that within the same population both a host and its parasitoid have the potential for specific and reciprocal genetic interactions.