Effects of species-specific variation in mutualistic coevolution on the structure of local and regional ecological networks

Abstract

Ecological interactions connect different species in a locality, and species dispersal between localities connects populations regionally, forming a metacommunity. In metacommunities, the patterns of interactions and their changes over time are determined by eco-evolutionary processes and spatial dynamics. Understanding how these mechanisms shape interaction patterns is key to preserving species and their interactions, especially in a context of accelerated changes in the environment and land use. Using a spatially explicit model of mutualistic coevolution, and tools from network theory, I intend to unravel how species-specific ecological features affect the structural patterns of interaction networks of coevolving species in a metacommunity context. In this project, I will use simulations varying the interaction efficiency and dispersal abilities of species based on empirical distributions obtained from field work sampling of plant-pollinator interactions. I aim to understand how asymmetries among interacting species can affect species persistence, network structure and the species role in the network. With these analyses, I hope to contribute to the understanding of how coevolution can shape interaction networks in space, influencing species persistence and function maintenance over time. (AU)