Collaborative Research: EAGER - Eco-Evolutionary Feedback on Community Assembly

了解生态和进化过程之间的相互作用对于建立一个健全的群落聚集理论至关重要。在纽约州锡拉丘兹附近的一个实验森林里，即将建造许多临时池塘，这是一个独特的机会，可以利用这些系统作为模型，测试生态和进化因素在物种殖民新栖息地时如何反馈的几个方面。该项目将在池塘建成后立即对无脊椎动物的遗传多样性和物种多样性进行独立处理，并测量初始建设对随后的遗传多样性、物种多样性和生活史特征进化的影响。通过一个控制的、大规模的野外实验，该项目解决了三个问题：(1)物种相互作用与扩散限制在多大程度上影响群落聚集？(2)遗传多样性如何影响群落聚集？(3)群体聚集如何影响重要适合度特征？这一迫切需要的直接结果应提供深入了解生态（例如，物种多样性和相互作用）和进化因素（例如，遗传多样性和生活史特征的进化）如何相互作用，从而影响这一群落景观的动态。利用这一有限的时间来控制池塘社区的建设，也将随着社区的发展带来更有趣的长期研究。该项目将培养一名博士后、一名研究生和几名本科生（其中几名是妇女和/或在科学领域代表性不足的少数民族的成员）。公众推广将通过在现有的推广网站（www.life.uiuc.edu/caceres/teachers）上添加与该奖项相关的模块来完成。Cáceres和舒尔茨将使用纽约州和伊利诺伊州的州标准，共同开发这些课程。项目参与者将成为一个多学科研究小组的一员，评估建造临时池塘在恢复工作中的作用，特别是在保护濒危两栖动物方面的作用。

Understanding the interplay between ecological and evolutionary processes is essential for developing a robust theory of community assembly. With the imminent construction of numerous temporary ponds in an experimental forest near Syracuse, NY, there is the unique opportunity to use these systems as models for testing several aspects of how ecological and evolutionary factors feedback as species colonize new habitats. The project will manipulate independently both genetic and species diversity of invertebrates immediately after pond construction, and measure how initial establishment influences subsequent genetic diversity, species diversity, and the evolution of life history traits. Through a controlled, large-scale, field experiment, the project addresses three questions: (1) To what extent do species interactions versus dispersal limitation influence community assembly? (2) How does genetic diversity influence community assembly? (3) How does the assembling community influence important fitness traits? The immediate results of this EAGER should provide insight into how ecological (e.g., species diversity and interactions) and evolutionary factors (e.g., genetic diversity and evolution of life history traits) interact when influencing the dynamics of this landscape of communities. Taking advantage of this time-limited opportunity to control the pond communities from their construction will also lead to more interesting longer-term studies as the communities develop.This project will result in the training of one post-doctoral fellow, one graduate student and several undergraduates (several of whom are women and/or members of ethnic groups that are underrepresented in science). Public outreach will be accomplished by adding a module related to this award to an existing outreach website (www.life.uiuc.edu/caceres/teachers). Cáceres and Schulz will develop the lessons together, using state standards from both New York and Illinois. Project participants will be part of a multi-disciplinary research team evaluating the role of constructed temporary ponds in restoration efforts, especially in the conservation of endangered amphibians.