Data from: Patterns of specificity of the pathogen Escovopsis across the fungus-growing ant symbiosis

Parasites evolve within complex abiotic and biotic environments. Because
of this, it is often challenging to ascertain how evolutionary and
ecological processes together affect parasite specialization. Here, we use
the fungus-growing ant system, which consists of ancient, likely
coevolved, complex communities, to explore the ecological and evolutionary
forces shaping host-parasite specificity. We use a comparative
phylogenetic framework to determine whether patterns of specificity
between the fungal parasite Escovopsis and its host fungi at fine
phylogenetic scales reflect patterns of specificity at broader
phylogenetic levels. In other words, we ask whether parasite specificity
across broad host phylogenetic relationships is maintained by specificity
toward more closely related hosts. We couple this exploration with
manipulations of the community context within which host-parasite
interactions are taking place to evaluate how community complexity alters
parasite specificity. Regardless of host community complexity, parasites
displayed a consistent pattern of specialization on native hosts, that is,
those that they are found attacking in nature, with the potential for
occasional switching to hosts distantly related to their native hosts.
These results suggest that, even within a complex community context,
pairwise host and parasite adaptation and coadaptation can be the primary
drivers of the evolution and maintenance of parasite specificity.