How does species abundances affect the coevolutionary dynamics in mutualistic networks?

• Grant number: 15/12956-7
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• Start date: October 01, 2015
• End date: February 28, 2017
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Ecology - Theoretical Ecology
• Principal Investigator: Paulo Roberto Guimarães Junior
• Grantee: Lucas Paoliello de Medeiros
• Host Institution: Instituto de Biociências (IB). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 09/54422-8 - Structure and coevolutionary dynamics in mutualistic networks, AP.JP

Abstract

Mutualisms are ecological interactions that constitute a fundamental part of biodiversity and affect both ecological (e.g. species abundances) and evolutionary (e.g. trait matching in interacting species) patterns. In a given locality, the set of mutualistic interactions between many species forms an interaction network. Mutualistic networks are characterized by well-defined structural patterns, which may affect species ecological, evolutionary and coevolutionary dynamics. An important challenge in understanding coevolutionary processes in multispecies mutualistic assemblages is to investigate ecological and coevolutionary dynamics using an integrative approach. Thus, the goal of the current project is to investigate how species abundances may affect the coevolutionary dynamics in mutualistic networks. We developed a mathematical model of coevolutionary dynamics and will run numerical simulations parameterized with empirical data. The hypothesis we will investigate is that the effect of species abundances upon the coevolutionary dynamics depends on the association between the species abundance distribution and the structure of the mutualistic network. (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)

MEDEIROS, LUCAS P.; GARCIA, GUILHERME; THOMPSON, JOHN N.; GUIMARAES, JR., PAULO R.. The geographic mosaic of coevolution in mutualistic networks. PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, v. 115, n. 47, p. 12017-12022, NOV 20 2018. (16/20739-9, 15/12956-7, 17/08406-7)

DATTILO, WESLEY; LARA-RODRIGUEZ, NUBIA; JORDANO, PEDRO; GUIMARAES, JR., PAULO R.; THOMPSON, JOHN N.; MARQUIS, ROBERT J.; MEDEIROS, LUCAS P.; ORTIZ-PULIDO, RAUL; MARCOS-GARCIA, MARIA A.; RICO-GRAY, VICTOR. Unravelling Darwin's entangled bank: architecture and robustness of mutualistic networks with multiple interaction types. PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY B-BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES, v. 283, n. 1843, NOV 30 2016. (15/12956-7)

DATTILO, WESLEY; LARA-RODRIGUEZ, NUBIA; JORDANO, PEDRO; GUIMARAES, PAULO R., JR.; THOMPSON, JOHN N.; MARQUIS, ROBERT J.; MEDEIROS, LUCAS P.; ORTIZ-PULIDO, RAUL; MARCOS-GARCIA, MARIA A.; RICO-GRAY, VICTOR. Unravelling Darwin's entangled bank: architecture and robustness of mutualistic networks with multiple interaction types (vol 283, 20161564, 2016). PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY B-BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES, v. 284, n. 1846, p. 1-pg., 2017-01-11. (15/12956-7)

Academic Publications

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

MEDEIROS, Lucas Paoliello de. Coevolution in mutualistic networks: gene flow and selection mosaics. 2017. Master's Dissertation - Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Instituto de Biociências (IBIOC/SB) São Paulo.