Genetic correlation's influence on coevolutionary processes

• Grant number: 16/14277-2
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• Start date: April 01, 2017
• End date: October 31, 2021
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Ecology - Theoretical Ecology
• Agreement: Coordination of Improvement of Higher Education Personnel (CAPES)
• Principal Investigator: Paulo Roberto Guimarães Junior
• Grantee: Ana Paula Aprígio Assis
• Host Institution: Instituto de Biociências (IB). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 18/14809-0 - Evolutionary dynamics in ecological networks, AP.JP2

Abstract

Coevolution, the evolutionary change caused by reciprocal selection imposed by interacting species, can influence phenotypic evolution, species diversification and the organization of biological communities. In the last few years, several mathematical models were developed in order to elucidate the mechanisms behind coevolutionary dynamics. Most of those models describe how a single phenotypic trait are responsible for the interspecific interaction and, therefore, is under selective pressures. However, multiple traits might be involved in establishing and performing the biotic interactions. Quantitative genetics studies showed that the evolution of multiple traits depends on the genetic correlations observed among traits. Those correlations might affect the coevolutionary dynamics, shaping the rate to which traits respond to selection and also influencing the resulting phenotypic patterns. The goal of this project is to combine a multivariate quantitative genetics framework with coevolutionary models to investigate how the patterns of genetic correlations among traits affect the coevolutionary process in a species pair. Coevolution is a local process with selection strength and direction variable along a species distributional range. Therefore, we plan to incorporate elements derived from network theory to investigate the influence of spatial structure on the coevolutionary process. Within this framework, we expect to 1) broaden our understanding of the interplay between ecological and evolutionary processes that shape the phenotypic patterns observed in nature; 2) develop a theoretical foundation that may serve as basis for developing empirical testable hypotheses within the evolutionary ecology field and 3) understand how multivariate phenotypes affect ecological interactions. (AU)

Scientific publications

(4)

(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)

MASCARENHAS, RILQUER; RUZISKA, FLAVIA M.; MOREIRA, EDUARDO FREITAS; CAMPOS, AMANDA B.; LOIOLA, MIGUEL; REIS, KAIKE; TRINDADE-SILVA, AMARO E.; BARBOSA, FELIPE A. S.; SALLES, LUCAS; MENEZES, RAFAEL; et al. Integrating Computational Methods to Investigate the Macroecology of Microbiomes. FRONTIERS IN GENETICS, v. 10, JAN 17 2020. (17/08406-7, 16/14277-2)

MITTELMAN, PEDRO; LANDIM, ANNA REBELLO; GENES, LUISA; ASSIS, ANA PAULA A.; STARLING-MANNE, CAROLINA; LEONARDO, PAULA V.; FERNANDEZ, FERNANDO A. S.; GUIMARAES, JR., PAULO R.; PIRES, ALEXANDRA S.. Trophic rewilding benefits a tropical community through direct and indirect network effects. ECOGRAPHY, NOV 2021. (16/14277-2, 18/14809-0)

ASSIS, ANA PAULA APRIGIO; GUIMARAES, PAULO ROBERTO. Organisms as Complex Structures Wrapped in a Complex Web of Life*. American Naturalist, v. 199, n. 6, p. 4-pg., 2022-06-01. (18/14809-0, 16/14277-2)

COSMO, LEANDRO G.; ASSIS, ANA PAULA A.; DE AGUIAR, MARCUS A. M.; PIRES, MATHIAS M.; VALIDO, ALFREDO; JORDANO, PEDRO; THOMPSON, JOHN N.; BASCOMPTE, JORDI; GUIMARAES JR, PAULO R.. Indirect effects shape species fitness in coevolved mutualistic networks. Nature, v. N/A, p. 21-pg., 2023-07-19. (21/14335-0, 16/14277-2, 19/22146-3, 18/14809-0, 19/25478-7, 22/07939-0)