Trade-off and life strategy selection: computer simulations of neutral dynamic and disturbances

• Grant number: 14/27349-6
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• Start date: May 01, 2015
• End date: January 22, 2017
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Ecology - Theoretical Ecology
• Agreement: Coordination of Improvement of Higher Education Personnel (CAPES)
• Principal Investigator: Alexandre Adalardo de Oliveira
• Grantee: Luísa Novara Monclar Gonçalves
• Host Institution: Instituto de Biociências (IB). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The unified neutral theory of Biodiversity and Biogeography (Hubbell 2001) presents stochastic processes as sufficient conditions for community structuration, in spite of biologic interactions and niche differentiation between species. While Hubbell's neutral model highlights the neutral drift with diversity stabilization by immigration and speciation, niche models give importance to natural selection in differentiating niches to promote species coexistence in communities. Traditionally, in community ecology, the study of life strategy coexistence is associated to the niche theory theoretical context. However, initial results from computer simulations that associate trade-off between fecundity and survival to individuals of a community under neutral dynamic indicate that it occurs directional selection in favor of certain life strategies (Novara, Oliveira & Prado 2014). This project will associate to this neutral scenario the occurrence of disturbances in different intensities and frequencies, in order to study the influence of trade-off and environmental stochasticity interaction in community structure and functional composition. The evaluation of disturbance effects in community functional structure has great relevance on the current context of anthropic changes in natural ecosystems and may aid in preventing alterations in these communities and taking decisions on management and conservation. (AU)

Academic Publications

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

GONÇALVES, Luísa Novara Monclar. Disturbance effect on life strategies: evolutionary and ecological dynamics. 2017. Master's Dissertation - Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Instituto de Biociências (IBIOC/SB) São Paulo.