Collaborative Research: Elucidating the Mechanisms of Coexistance in Communities of Ant-plant Mutualists

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A major goal of ecology is to understand the factors promoting coexistence amongcompeting species. Chief among the hypothesized mechanisms is habitatheterogeneity, but alternatives include temporal fluctuations in resource availability,spatially restricted dispersal, and tradeoffs among fecundity, dispersal, and competitiveability. Only a handful of these mechanisms have ever been shown to operate in thefield, and experimental tests simultaneously evaluating multiple mechanisms are rare.The proposed study will evaluate alternative coexistence mechanisms in an emergingmodel system in community ecology - ants that compete to establish colonies inspecialized plant structures known as domatia. Three species of ants colonize thedomatia of the Amazonian trees Tococa bullifera and Maieta guianensis. Using thissystem, non-mutually exclusive mechanisms that may promote ant coexistance will betested with a combination of field observations, manipulative experiments, andmathematical models. Because this system is composed of two specialists that coexistwith a generalist on two resources, our results could provide unique insights into theevolution of specialization in ecological communities. The project will provide ampleopportunities for students at multiple stages of their academic careers to developresearch, modeling, and mentorship skills. Furthermore, the collaborating PI's are atinstitutions with large minority enrollments, which will allow them to continue mentoringstudents from underrepresented groups. Finally, this project will strengthen a dynamicand productive international collaboration, and allow US students to gain their firstexperience working in Amazonian ecosystems.