Dissertation Research: Spatial and temporal variation in an ant-plant interaction

物种间的相互作用对物种的地理分布范围和当地物种组合的组成和多样性有重要影响。物种相互作用的结果在时间和空间上都是高度可变的，并且相互作用物种的身份会强烈影响结果。互惠互利，相互作用中，两个物种受益，被认为是重要的物种参与，但互惠互利的相互作用在构建生态群落的作用知之甚少。了解蚂蚁和它们的宿主植物之间的互惠互动如何随时间、空间和宿主植物物种而变化，将更好地理解物种互动在塑造群落中的作用，并将帮助我们理解互惠在自然界中是如何进化和维持的。黄刺蚁Myrmelachista flavocotea与其所需寄主植物Ocotea atirrensis和O.将在哥斯达黎加的三个地点（La Selva生物站、Monteverde生物站和Pitilla生物站）的种群内和种群间检查树瑞香。这项研究的结果将提供重要的洞察力如何蚂蚁-植物相互作用影响社区水平的过程。在进行这项研究时，很可能会遇到科学上新的蚂蚁物种，这有助于我们了解哥斯达黎加的生物多样性。本科生将参加该项目，获得宝贵的研究经验，并接触到哥斯达黎加令人震惊的生物多样性。为这一项目收集的数据将公开提供，这项工作产生的出版物将存放在哥斯达黎加的热带研究组织图书馆。

Species interactions have important effects on the geographic ranges of species and on the composition and diversity of local species assemblages. The outcome of species interactions can be highly variable in time and across space, and outcomes can be strongly influenced by the identities of the interacting species. Mutualisms, interactions in which both species benefit, are assumed to be important to the species involved, but the role of mutualistic interactions in structuring ecological communities is poorly understood. Understanding how mutualistic interactions between ants and their host plants varies through time, in space, and across host plant species will give a better understanding of the role of species interactions in shaping communities, and will help us understand how mutualisms evolve and are maintained in nature. Interactions between the ant Myrmelachista flavocotea and its required host plants Ocotea atirrensis and O. dendrodaphne will be examined within and among populations at three sites in Costa Rica (La Selva Biological Station, Monteverde Biological Station, and Pitilla Biological Station). Results from this study will provide important insight on how an ant-plant interaction influences community level processes. It is likely that ant species new to science will be encountered while conducting this research, contributing to our knowledge of biodiversity in Costa Rica. Undergraduate students will participate in the project, gaining valuable research experience and exposure to the astounding biological diversity present in Costa Rica. Data collected for this project will be made publicly available, and publications arising from this work will be deposited in the Organization of Tropical Studies Libraries in Costa Rica.