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

生态学家早就认识到，空间异质性对于生物多样性的产生和维持至关重要。例如，如果不同地方的环境条件不同，如果每个物种都有一套不同的条件，在这种情况下可以排除其他物种，那么就可以保持物种的多样性。最近，理论研究也表明，即使条件不因地而异，也可以保持多样性；这可以通过一种称为“自组织”的过程来实现。自组织是指由于不同物种之间的局部相互作用而出现的共存物种的大规模模式。自组织的空间异质性是否是由实际的生态群落(而不是计算机模拟的群落)产生的，这是有争议的。这项研究项目将利用实验室微生物群落来研究局部相互作用是否会导致自组织的空间异质性，自组织的异质性是否足以促进种群的共存，以及自组织的群落如何通过进化发生变化。人类面临的最关键的挑战是保护、恢复和明智地管理地球上多样化的生物资源。为了应对这些挑战，社会需要有关如何产生和维护这些资源的基本信息。这项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.