Negative frequency-dependent selection maintains partner quality variation in a keystone nutritional mutualism
Rebecca T. Batstone, Xingyuan Su, Christina Gallick, Meghan M. Blaszynski, Emily O. Perry, Karla Griesbaum, Labake Oyetayo, David Vereau Gorbitz, Jennifer A. Lau, Katy D. Heath
This study shows negative frequency-dependent selection maintains genetic variation in legume-rhizobium mutualisms by favoring high-quality strains when rare.
bioRxiv · May 19, 2026 · PreprintEvolutionary Biology