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范围以及当地物种组合的组成和多样性都有重要影响。物种相互作用的结果在时间和空间上可能是高度可变的，结果可能会受到相互作用物种的身份的强烈影响。互惠关系，即两个物种都受益的相互作用，被认为对所涉及的物种很重要，但互惠关系在构建生态群落中的作用却鲜为人知。了解蚂蚁与寄主植物之间的相互作用如何随时间、空间和寄主植物物种的变化而变化，将有助于更好地理解物种相互作用在塑造群落中的作用，并有助于我们理解互惠关系是如何在自然界中进化和维持的。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)，将研究蚂蚁Myrmelchista flavcotea与其所需的寄主Ocoteaatirrensis和O.endrodaphne种群之间的相互作用。这项研究的结果将为蚂蚁-植物相互作用如何影响群落水平的过程提供重要的见解。在进行这项研究时，很可能会遇到科学上新的蚂蚁物种，这有助于我们对哥斯达黎加生物多样性的了解。本科生将参与该项目，获得宝贵的研究经验，并接触到哥斯达黎加令人惊叹的生物多样性。为该项目收集的数据将公之于众，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.