Simple and compound network topologies in different modes of species interactions

• Grant number: 20/06771-2
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• Start date: January 01, 2021
• End date: December 26, 2024
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Ecology - Theoretical Ecology
• Principal Investigator: Thomas Michael Lewinsohn
• Grantee: Rafael Barros Pereira Pinheiro
• Host Institution: Instituto de Biologia (IB). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil
• Associated scholarship(s): 22/05015-5 - Plant-pollinator networks along altitudinal gradients: structural variation and underlying mechanisms, BE.EP.PD

Abstract

Within a biological community, species interact in antagonistic and mutualistic ways, building complex networks. Nestedness and modularity are common topologies in such networks and, despite being distinct and negatively correlated patterns, several networks show some combination of both. A solution for this seeming paradox is a compound topology, in which patterns predominate at different network hierarchical levels: the total network is composed of internally nested modules. Recent studies have provided theoretical and empirical evidence that compound topologies are prevalent in species interaction networks; however, to date this prediction has not been tested. In this project, first, we will systematically assess the prevalence of nested, modular and compound topologies. Next, we will test the effect of data quality and extent in topology detection, defining minimum criteria. Then we will evaluate causal factors for the distribution of topologies among network modes and test the effects of interaction intimacy and species diversity on topologies. Last, we will focus on changes in network topology across spatial scales and test two contrasting hypotheses: (1) the hierarchization of patterns within compound topologies is reflected in spatial scales, so that local networks are nested and form modules of regional compound networks; (2) local networks are largely modular, whereas nestedness prevails at larger spatial scales. We expect to produce at least two papers to submit to international journals, as well as non-academic diffusion through public communication media. (AU)

Scientific publications

(5)

(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)

PINHEIRO, RAFAEL B. P.; FELIX, GABRIEL M. F.; LEWINSOHN, THOMAS M.. Hierarchical compound topology uncovers complex structure of species interaction networks. Journal of Animal Ecology, v. 91, n. 11, p. 13-pg., 2022-09-07. (20/06771-2)

PINHEIRO, RAFAEL B. P.; FELIX, GABRIEL M. F.; BELL, JEFFREY A.; FECCHIO, ALAN. The latitudinal specialization gradient of bird-malarial parasite networks in South America: lower connectance, but more evenly distributed interactions towards the equator. ECOGRAPHY, v. N/A, p. 9-pg., 2023-09-13. (22/05015-5, 20/06771-2)

DUTRA, DANIELA DE ANGELI; PINHEIRO, RAFAEL BARROS PEREIRA; FECCHIO, ALAN; POULIN, ROBERT. Revealing the drivers of parasite community assembly: using avian haemosporidians to model global dynamics of parasite species turnover. ECOGRAPHY, v. N/A, p. 10-pg., 2023-02-14. (20/06771-2)

OLIVEIRA, HERNANI F. M.; PEREIRA PINHEIRO, RAFAEL BARROS; VARASSIN, ISABELA GALARDA; RODRIGUEZ-HERRERA, BERNAL; KUZMINA, MARIA; ROSSITER, STEPHEN J.; CLARE, ELIZABETH L.. he structure of tropical bat-plant interaction networks during an extreme El Nino-Southern Oscillation even. Molecular Ecology, v. 31, n. 6, p. 1892-1906, MAR 2022. (20/06771-2)

FELIX, GABRIEL M.; PINHEIRO, RAFAEL B. P.; JORGE, LEONARDO R.; LEWINSOHN, THOMAS M.. A framework for hierarchical compound topologies in species interaction networks. OIKOS, v. 2022, n. 12, p. 13-pg., 2022-09-19. (16/24821-1, 20/06771-2)