The Role of Localized Interactions and Dispersal in the Ecology and Evolution of Model Populations

生态学家早就认识到，空间异质性对生物多样性的产生和维持至关重要。例如，如果环境条件因地而异，如果每个物种都有一套独特的条件，在这种条件下，它可以排斥其他物种，那么物种的多样性就可以保持。最近，理论研究也表明，即使条件不因地而异，多样性也可以保持；这可以通过一个称为“自组织”的过程来实现。自组织是由于不同物种之间的局部相互作用而产生的物种共存的大规模模式。自组织空间异质性是否由实际生态群落（与计算机模拟的群落相反）产生是有争议的。本研究项目将利用实验室微生物群落研究局部相互作用是否会导致自组织空间异质性，自组织异质性是否足以促进种群共存，以及自组织群落如何通过进化变化。人类面临的最严峻挑战之一是保护、恢复和明智地管理地球上各种各样的生物资源。为了应对这些挑战，社会需要关于如何产生和维护这些资源的基本信息。这个研究项目将产生这样的信息。

Ecologists have long recognized that spatial heterogeneity can be crucial for the generation and maintenance of biological diversity. For example, a diverse array of species can be maintained if environmental conditions vary from place to place, and if each species has a distinct set of conditions under which it can exclude other species. Recently, theoretical studies have also shown that diversity can be maintained even if conditions do not vary from place to place; this can occur through a process called "self-organization." Self-organization is the emergence of large scale patterns of coexisting species due only to local interactions among different species. Whether self-organized spatial heterogeneity is generated by actual ecological communities (as opposed to communities simulated by a computer) is controversial. This research project will use laboratory communities of microorganisms to study whether localized interactions can result in self-organized spatial heterogeneity, whether self-organized heterogeneity is sufficient to promote the coexistence of populations, and how self-organized communities change through evolution.Among the most critical challenges facing humanity are the conservation, restoration and wise management of the Earth's diverse living resources. To meet these challenges, society requires basic information concerning how these resources are generated and maintained. This research project will generate such information.