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Coevolution and the architecture of mutualistic networks
Scott L Nuismer1, Pedro Jordano, Jordi Bascompte
1Department of Biological Sciences & Institute for Bioinformatics and Evolutionary Studies, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID 83844, USA. snuismer@uidaho.edu
Evolution; International Journal of Organic Evolution
|January 30, 2013
Summary
Coevolutionary selection significantly impacts mutualistic communities, altering trait distributions and interaction networks. This process can increase species interactions and change network structure, even among generalized species.
Area of Science:
- Ecology
- Evolutionary Biology
- Theoretical Biology
Background:
- Coevolution is recognized for specialized species pairs.
- Its role in species-rich, generalized communities is debated.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the importance of coevolutionary selection in complex mutualistic communities.
- To analyze mathematical models of plant-pollinator and plant-seed disperser interactions.
Main Methods:
- Development and analysis of mathematical models.
- Modeling mutualistic communities with generalized species.
Main Results:
- Coevolutionary selection drives significant trait distribution changes.
- Increased connectance and altered nestedness patterns observed.
- Phenotype matching leads to antinested networks; phenotype differences lead to nested networks.
Conclusions:
- Coevolutionary selection is a crucial force in mutualistic communities.
- It shapes trait distributions, interaction rates, and network structure.
- Findings challenge previous assumptions about coevolution's role in generalized communities.
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