Coevolution of phenological traits shapes plant-pollinator coexistence
François Duchenne1,2,3, Virginia Domínguez-García1, Francisco P Molina1
1Estacíon Biológica de Doñana (CSIC) , Seville41092, Spain.
Proceedings. Biological Sciences
|February 10, 2026
Summary
Phenological coevolution, not morphological, drives diverse and stable ecological communities. Seasonal traits promote facilitation, leading to nested networks and enhanced community stability.
Area of Science:
- Ecology
- Evolutionary Biology
- Theoretical Ecology
Background:
- Species traits influence interactions, which affect coexistence.
- Previous models overlooked coevolutionary feedback from interactions to traits.
Purpose of the Study:
- To model how coevolving morphological and phenological traits shape mutualistic networks.
- To understand the impact of trait coevolution on community structure and stability.
Main Methods:
- Developed a quantitative genetics theoretical model.
- Analyzed coevolution of morphological and phenological traits.
- Compared theoretical results with empirical data from 17 pollination networks.
Main Results:
- Phenological traits promote facilitation over competition, unlike morphological traits.
- Morphological coevolution yields modular networks with negative diversity-stability trade-offs.
- Phenological coevolution generates nested networks with positive diversity-stability relationships.
- Empirical data support the role of phenological traits in community assembly and stability.
Conclusions:
- Phenological coevolution is crucial for building diverse and stable ecological communities.
- Seasonal interactions enhance community stability and mitigate diversity-stability trade-offs.
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