| Grant number: | 17/08406-7 |
| Support Opportunities: | Regular Research Grants |
| Start date: | August 01, 2017 |
| End date: | July 31, 2019 |
| Field of knowledge: | Biological Sciences - Ecology - Theoretical Ecology |
| Principal Investigator: | Paulo Roberto Guimarães Junior |
| Grantee: | Paulo Roberto Guimarães Junior |
| Host Institution: | Instituto de Biociências (IB). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil |
| City of the host institution: | São Paulo |
Abstract
Mutualisms are ecological interactions that affect and are affected by ecological and evolutionary processes operating at the interacting species. In ecological communities, many types of mutualisms involve dozens of species, forming networks of ecological interactions. In the last two decades, a set of empirical studies revealed fundamental features of the network structure of mutualistic interactions. Recently, theoretical studies have been developing a mathematical theory that describes how evolution and coevolution can occur in mutualistic networks. These mathematical models assume a fixed composition of species and interactions in a given mutualistic network. However, a set of empirical studies revealed that species turnover and interaction turnover are ubiquitous features of mutualistic networks. Species turnover and interaction turnover may prevent the evolution of co-adaptations characterized by phenotypic matching between interacting mutualistic species. Similarly, phenotypic matching in mutualistic species may constrain the species turnover and interaction turnover in mutualistic networks. In this project, we will explore the apparent paradox of the coexistence of species turnover, interaction turnover and phenotypic matching with the aid of coevolutionary mathematical models. Specifically, we will study in which conditions the coevolutionary dynamics limit or is limited by the species and interaction turnover. Because the structural complexity associated with ecological interactions may affect both ecological and evolutionary dynamics, we will explore how the structure of mutualistic networks affects the relationship between coevolutionary dynamics and the turnover of species and interactions. In a broader context, we hope to contribute to a better understanding to one central problem in evolutionary ecology: how ecological interactions can affect the evolution of interacting species and, at the same time, be resilient to the relentless turnover of mutualistic partners across time. (AU)
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