Food-web flexibility effects on network stability and ecosystem processes

自然群落的结构可以用复杂的网络来描述，节点代表种群，链接（边）表征直接能量和生物质流动的摄食相互作用。传统上，这些网络的链接结构和种群特征（如体重）被视为决定物种种群动态的静态属性。最近的建模方法允许根据自适应觅食算法和大小结构人口模型中的人口特征的方差进行链接自适应。在这些方法下，节点和链路的特性是灵活的，网络结构是动态的结果（而不仅仅是原因）。该项目旨在从机制上理解链接结构（自适应觅食）和节点特征（大小结构种群）的灵活性如何影响复杂食物网和生态系统过程的稳定性。生态系统进程（例如，初级生产）将被监测，以分析种群水平的适应力是否优化了网络水平的过程。由于其他生物网络也是灵活的，这个项目可能会丰富复杂网络科学的其他学科。

The structure of natural communities can be described by complex networks with nodes representing populations and links (edges) characterizing feeding interactions that direct energy and biomass flows. Traditionally, the link structure of these networks and the population traits such as their body masses have been viewed as static properties that determine species’ population dynamics. More recent modelling approaches allow link adaptation according to adaptive foraging algorithms and variance in population traits in size-structured population models. Under these approaches, the characteristics of the nodes and links are flexible, and the network structure is a consequence of dynamics (and not merely the cause). This project is aiming to develop a mechanistic understanding of how flexibility in the link structures (adaptive foraging) and the node traits (size-structured populations) affect the stability of complex food webs and ecosystem processes. Ecosystem processes (e.g., primary production) will be monitored to analyze if adaptive forces at the population level optimize processes at the network level. As other biological networks are also flexible, this project may fertilize other disciplines of complex network science.