The ecology and evolution of seed predation by Darwin's finches on Tribulus cistoides on the Galápagos Islands

Darwin's finches and the plant species Tribulus cistoides are engaged in an ongoing coevolutionary arms race, with finch seed predation significantly influencing both the ecology and evolution of the plant. The study reveals that seed survival in T. cistoides varies dramatically depending on finch community composition across islands and interannual precipitation fluctuations. Finch beak morphology imposes strong phenotypic selection on fruit traits, favoring smaller, harder fruits with longer or more spines. This selection pressure is further modulated by spatial variation in finch communities, suggesting a dynamic coevolutionary process shaped by both environmental and biotic factors.

Carvajal‐Endara, S., Hendry, A. P., Emery, N. C., Neu, C. P., Carmona, D., Gotanda, K. M., Davies, T. J., Chaves, J. A., & Johnson, M. T. J. (2019). The ecology and evolution of seed predation by Darwin’s finches on Tribulus cistoides on the Galápagos Islands. Ecological Monographs, 90(1). Portico. https://doi.org/10.1002/ecm.1392