The Evolutionary Ecology of Mycorrhizal Networks

Mycorrhizal networks which allow carbon compounds and mineral nutrients to be passed between individual plants, even members of different species, are potentially of great ecological importance. The evolution of such systems is of particular interest as they appear to need a group selectionist explanation. I suggest that such explanations are not necessary to explain the evolution of these systems as gene level explanations can be provided which appear to be sufficient to explain their evolution. Such explanations are to be preferred since they are less open to problems with cheating by the symbionts and therefore more stable.