Trait-Based Theory of Network Reassembly

生态网络产生于物种之间的相互作用。它们依赖于决定物种环境耐受性的反应性状，从而决定物种的丰度，以及决定物种之间相互作用强度的相互作用性状。在这个项目中，我们结合联合收割机模拟物种的相互作用与观察到的网络的统计分析，解开的作用，特征匹配和环境的容忍度的网络结构和动态沿着森林恢复梯度。模拟使我们能够严格控制响应和交互特征，并调查由此产生的社区动态。同时，我们开发了一个分析管道来恢复观察到的相互作用中的特征信号，并使用模拟作为验证。特别是，我们有兴趣阐明松散的特质匹配（“一般性”）是否产生不同的网络结构和动态比紧密的匹配（“专业化”），以及是否在环境中的变化覆盖特质驱动的网络结构。另一个重要点是同一群体（行会）内相互作用的作用，特别是竞争（例如传粉者之间或食草动物之间）。由此产生的模型和分析也形成了一个重要的工具箱，用于研究组内其他子项目的综合，因此我们将组织研讨会，以概括观察结果，并将模拟与所研究的系统紧密联系起来。

Ecological networks emerge from the interactions among species. They depend on response traits that determine the environmental tolerances of a species and hence their abundance, and interaction traits, which govern the strength of interactions between species. In this project we combine simulations of species interactions with statistical analyses of observed networks to unravel the role of trait-matching and environmental tolerance for network structure and dynamics along a forest recovery gradient. Simulations allow us to strictly control response and interaction traits and investigate the resulting community dynamics. In parallel, we develop an analytical pipeline to recover the trait signals in observed interactions, and use the simulations as verification. In particular, we are interested in elucidating whether loose trait matches ("generality") yield different network structures and dynamics than tight matches ("specialisation"), and whether changes in the environment override trait-driven network structures. Another important point is the role of interactions within the same group (guild), in particular competition (e.g. among pollinators or among herbivores). The resulting models and analyses also form a crucial toolbox for syntheses across the other sub-projects within the Research Group, and hence we will organise workshops to generalise observations and link simulations closely to the systems under investigation.