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

生态学的一个主要目标是了解促进竞争物种共存的因素。 假设的机制是栖息地的异质性，但替代品包括时间波动的资源可用性，空间限制的扩散，以及繁殖力，扩散和竞争能力之间的权衡。 只有少数这些机制曾经被证明是在外地工作，同时评估多个机制的实验测试是罕见的。 拟议的研究将评估替代共存机制在一个新兴的模型系统在社区生态学-蚂蚁竞争建立殖民地在专门的植物结构被称为domatia。 三种蚂蚁定居在亚马逊河流域的树木Tococabullifera和Maieta guianensis的领地。 使用这个系统，非相互排斥的机制，可能会促进蚂蚁共存将测试与现场观察，操作实验和数学模型的组合。 因为这个系统是由两个专家共存的通才两种资源，我们的研究结果可以提供独特的见解专业化的进化生态社区。 该项目将为处于学术生涯多个阶段的学生提供充足的机会，以发展研究，建模和指导技能。 此外，合作PI的机构有大量的少数民族入学，这将使他们能够继续指导学生从代表性不足的群体。 最后，该项目将加强充满活力和富有成效的国际合作，并让美国学生获得在亚马逊生态系统中工作的第一次经验。

A major goal of ecology is to understand the factors promoting coexistence among competing species. Chief among the hypothesized mechanisms is habitat heterogeneity, but alternatives include temporal fluctuations in resource availability, spatially restricted dispersal, and tradeoffs among fecundity, dispersal, and competitive ability. Only a handful of these mechanisms have ever been shown to operate in the field, and experimental tests simultaneously evaluating multiple mechanisms are rare. The proposed study will evaluate alternative coexistence mechanisms in an emerging model system in community ecology - ants that compete to establish colonies in specialized plant structures known as domatia. Three species of ants colonize the domatia of the Amazonian trees Tococa bullifera and Maieta guianensis. Using this system, non-mutually exclusive mechanisms that may promote ant coexistance will be tested with a combination of field observations, manipulative experiments, and mathematical models. Because this system is composed of two specialists that coexist with a generalist on two resources, our results could provide unique insights into the evolution of specialization in ecological communities. The project will provide ample opportunities for students at multiple stages of their academic careers to develop research, modeling, and mentorship skills. Furthermore, the collaborating PI's are at institutions with large minority enrollments, which will allow them to continue mentoring students from underrepresented groups. Finally, this project will strengthen a dynamic and productive international collaboration, and allow US students to gain their first experience working in Amazonian ecosystems.