The Hierarchical Coevolutionary Units of Ecological Networks

Autor(es)

Maia, Kate Pereira ; Guimaraes Jr, Paulo Roberto

• Tipo de documento: Artigo Científico
• Fonte: ECOLOGY LETTERS; v. 27, n. 9, p. 11-pg., 2024-09-01.

Resumo

In ecological networks, cohesive groups of species may shape the evolution of interactions, serving as coevolutionary units. Ranging across network scales, from motifs to isolated components, elucidating which cohesive groups are more determinant for coevolution remains a challenge in ecology. We address this challenge by integrating 376 empirical mutualistic and antagonistic networks and coevolutionary models. We identified cohesive groups at four network scales containing a significant proportion of potential direct coevolutionary effects. Cohesive groups displayed hierarchical organisation, and potential coevolutionary effects overflowing lower-scale groups were contained by higher-scale groups, underscoring the hierarchy's impact. However, indirect coevolutionary effects blurred group boundaries and hierarchy, particularly under strong selection from ecological interactions. Thus, under strong selection, indirect effects render networks themselves, and not cohesive groups, as the likely coevolutionary units of ecological systems. We hypothesise hierarchical cohesive groups to also shape how other forms of direct and indirect effects propagate in ecological systems. We test the long-standing evolutionary ecology hypothesis that modules represent coevolutionary units in ecological networks and expand it to include cohesive species groups across network scales. We found potential coevolutionary units to be hierarchically organised in ecological networks. When selection imposed by ecological interactions is strong, however, indirect effects render networks themselves, and not cohesive groups, as the likely coevolutionary units of ecological systems.image (AU)

• Processo FAPESP: 18/14809-0 - Dinâmica evolutiva em redes ecológicas
• Beneficiário: Paulo Roberto Guimarães Junior
• Modalidade de apoio: Auxílio à Pesquisa - Jovens Pesquisadores - Fase 2
• Processo FAPESP: 19/21732-6 - O papel de restrições genéticas no processo coevolutivo
• Beneficiário: Kate Pereira Maia
• Modalidade de apoio: Bolsas no Brasil - Pós-Doutorado