Interactions among closely-related species and the evolution of biodiversity

密切相关物种之间的相互作用和生物多样性的演变

• 批准号: RGPIN-2018-04452
• 负责人: Martin, Paul
• 金额: $ 2.91万
• 依托单位: Queen's University
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Discovery Grants Program - Individual
• 财政年份: 2020
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2020-01-01 至 2021-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=711537
• 关键词: Interactions; among; closely; related; species

What factors promote or constrain local biodiversity, and why does it vary in space and time? These questions are central to our understanding of nature, and yet we lack the answers necessary to accurately predict and mitigate the impacts of human activities on biodiversity. The goal of our proposed research program is to advance our understanding of biodiversity by studying how closely-related species coexist. We focus on closely-related species because they represent the earliest stages in the evolution of local biodiversity, and their shared ecological preferences and traits provide a challenge to coexistence. Objective 1. Understand how and why closely-related species partition resources. Seven species of Nicrophorus burying beetle live together in southern Ontario, all relying on small vertebrate carrion for breeding. We will study species that partition resources by breeding at different temperatures and occupying distinct habitats two environmental axes that influence many species in nature. The goal of this work is to understand the mechanisms that underlie resource partitioning among species, using a tractable system for detailed selection, transplant, competition, and thermal tolerance experiments. Objective 2. Understand the evolutionary consequences of direct, competitive interactions among species. Species are continuously signalling, displacing, and fighting with each other, revealing the importance of direct competitive interactions in nature. We will examine the consequences of direct interactions among species for signals, hybridization, and evolution by comparing species of birds that interact aggressively, with a consistently dominant and subordinate species. Objective 3. Identify broad processes and constraints that influence resource partitioning and the response of species to environmental challenges. Repeated patterns of resource partitioning in nature suggest recurrent underlying selective pressures and constraints. Using an extensive dataset on birds, we will test the hypotheses that adaptation to new and challenging environments compromises competitive ability, and that species confronted with environmental challenges will either struggle to persist when confronting additional new challenges, or will be preadapted to novel challenges as they occur. Impact. An understanding of the processes that structure biodiversity should play a central role in guiding how we interact with nature, from conserving species to managing resources. The research proposed here will improve our understanding of biodiversity by elucidating the mechanisms underlying resource partitioning, the consequences of direct interactions among species, and the broader processes that constrain how species partition resources, and thus determine when and how species can live together in nature. The proposed work would train 4 PhD, 5 MSc, and 12-15 BSc students.

是什么因素促进或制约了当地的生物多样性？为什么它在空间和时间上有所不同？这些问题是我们理解自然的核心，但我们缺乏必要的答案来准确预测和减轻人类活动对生物多样性的影响。我们提出的研究计划的目标是通过研究密切相关的物种如何共存来促进我们对生物多样性的理解。我们关注密切相关的物种，因为它们代表了当地生物多样性进化的最早阶段，它们共同的生态偏好和特征对共存构成了挑战。 目标1.了解密切相关的物种如何以及为什么划分资源。安大略省南部的七种夜蛾生活在一起，都依靠小型脊椎动物的腐肉繁殖。我们将研究通过在不同温度下繁殖和占据不同栖息地来划分资源的物种，这两个环境轴影响着自然界中的许多物种。这项工作的目标是了解物种间资源分配的机制，使用一个易于处理的系统进行详细的选择、移植、竞争和耐热性实验。 目标2.了解物种间直接的、竞争性的相互作用的进化后果。物种之间不断地发出信号、取代和相互战斗，揭示了自然界中直接竞争相互作用的重要性。我们将通过比较具有攻击性的鸟类与一致的优势和从属物种，来检验物种之间直接相互作用对信号、杂交和进化的影响。 目标3.确定影响资源划分和物种对环境挑战反应的广泛过程和制约因素。在自然界中，资源分割的重复模式意味着反复出现的潜在选择压力和限制。使用大量的鸟类数据集，我们将检验这样的假设，即适应新的和具有挑战性的环境会损害竞争能力，以及面临环境挑战的物种要么在面临额外的新挑战时难以维持，要么在新的挑战发生时预先适应。 冲击力。对构成生物多样性的过程的理解应该在指导我们如何与自然互动方面发挥核心作用，从保护物种到管理资源。这里提出的研究将通过阐明资源划分的潜在机制、物种之间直接相互作用的后果，以及限制物种如何划分资源从而决定物种何时以及如何在自然界中共存的更广泛的过程，来提高我们对生物多样性的理解。拟议的工作将培养4名博士、5名硕士和12-15名理科学生。