Evolutionary Economics of Plant-Pollinator Interaction

植物和传粉者的相互作用具有深远的经济和生物影响（例如，作物授粉，破碎种群或濒危植物和传粉者物种的持续存在，花形式的多样化）。本研究发展了植物和传粉者相互作用的数学和计算机模型。具体目标是：(1)研究相互作用的植物种群和传粉者种群的动态；(2)了解“通才”（例如，一种植物依赖许多不同的传粉者）与“专才”（例如，植物与传粉者之间的亲密一对一关系）相互作用何时演变。理论方法的前提是，植物和传粉者都是生产和消费经济的参与者（例如，花蜜，由植物产生，由传粉者消费）。利用贸易的经济概念，将植物生产和传粉者消费的数学和计算机模型结合起来。这些模型提供了对相互作用的植物和传粉者的生态和进化动力学的见解。这一努力对于研究进化和生态过程之间的界面，以及理解植物生殖系统的进化和植物与传粉者的相互作用具有广泛的意义。除了这些学术贡献之外，该提案还支持科学和数学培训，包括研究生研究助学金和本科生学习机会。拟议的培训使初级科学家接触到一项研究计划，该计划将定量推理整合到生物学相关性问题中。

Plant and pollinator interactions have profound economic and biological impact (e.g., pollination of crops, persistence of fragmented populations or endangered plant and pollinator species, diversification of floral form). This research develops mathematical and computer models of plant and pollinator interaction. Specific objectives are: (1) To investigate the dynamics of interacting plant and pollinator populations; and (2) To understand when `generalist' (e.g., one plant relying on many different pollinator) versus `specialist' (e.g., an intimate one-to-one relationship between plant and pollinator) interactions evolve. Theoretical methods are based on the premise that plants and pollinators are participants in an economy of production and consumption (e.g., nectar, produced by plants and consumed by pollinators). Mathematical and computer models of plant production and pollinator consumption are integrated using the economic notion of trade. These models provide insight into the ecological and evolutionary dynamics of interacting plants and pollinators.This endeavor is broadly significant in its contribution to study at the interface between evolutionary and ecological processes, and to understanding the evolution of plant reproductive systems and plant-pollinator mutualisms. In addition to these academic contributions, the proposal supports science and mathematics training with graduate research assistantships and undergraduate learning opportunities. The proposed training exposes beginning scientists to a research program integrating quantitative reasoning into questions of biological relevance.