Ecological and evolutionary cascades in mutualistic networks

• Grant number: 13/13319-5
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• Effective date (Start): March 01, 2014
• Effective date (End): October 31, 2017
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Ecology - Theoretical Ecology
• Principal Investigator: Paulo Roberto Guimarães Junior
• Grantee: Marília Palumbo Gaiarsa
• Host Institution: Instituto de Biociências (IB). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated scholarship(s): 14/20572-1 - How cascading effects propagate in mutualistic networks: incorporating species role and natural history, BE.EP.DR

Abstract

Species and communities are threatened as a result of habitat alterations and destructions. Therefore, it is important to understand how ecological communities are affected by species extinctions. Species in a community are connected through ecological interactions, such as mutualisms. In this sense, the effects of a species' extinction can cascade throughout the community. This work aims to develop theoretical predictions regarding the ecological and evolutionary consequences of cascading effects in ecological networks. Specifically, the following questions will be explored: 1. How the cascading effects are affected by the structure of mutualistic networks? 2. How the topological properties of the networks and/or the characteristics of its component species and their interactions influence the propagation of cascading effects? 3. How the extinction of one species alters the evolutionary dynamics of the networks? It is expected that the more connected species will be the most responsible for the cascading effects propagation. To explore these questions, methods derived from the random Boolean networks will be used. This approach will be combined with the description of the structure of ecological networks, theory on complex network flow, natural history data and an evolutionary model. First, the structure of the ecological networks will be characterized. Then, cascading effects will be simulated through random Boolean networks, and methods on ecological network flow will be employed to evaluate what is the relationship between the observed structural patterns and the propagation of cascading effects. Afterwards, data on the biology and natural history of the network' species will be included in the analyses and how the cascading effects propagate after this modification will be investigated. Finally, this project will examine the possible evolutionary consequences of perturbations on the structure and dynamic of mutualistic networks. (AU)

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

GAIARSA, MARILIA P.; GUIMARAES, JR., PAULO R.. Interaction strength promotes robustness against cascading effects in mutualistic networks. SCIENTIFIC REPORTS, v. 9, JAN 24 2019. (14/20572-1, 13/13319-5)

HUTCHINSON, MATTHEW C.; GAIARSA, MARILIA P.; STOUFFER, DANIEL B.. Contemporary Ecological Interactions Improve Models of Past Trait Evolution. Systematic Biology, v. 67, n. 5, p. 861-872, SEP 2018. (14/20572-1, 13/13319-5)

PONISIO, LAUREN C.; GAIARSA, MARILIA P.; KREMEN, CLAIRE. Opportunistic attachment assembles plant-pollinator networks. ECOLOGY LETTERS, v. 20, n. 10, p. 1261-1272, OCT 2017. (13/13319-5)

Academic Publications

(References retrieved automatically from State of São Paulo Research Institutions)

GAIARSA, Marília Palumbo. Cascading effects in mutualistic networks. 2017. Doctoral Thesis - Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Instituto de Biociências (IBIOC/SB) São Paulo.