Research

Coevolution in species-rich interactions

The main scientific problem we explore in our lab is how ecological interactions affect and are affected by evolutionary and coevolutionary dynamics. We address this problem by integrating data of empirical data on ecological interactions, tools from network science, and different types of evolutionary models. More information please refer to:

Andreazzi, C. S., J. N. Thompson, P. R. Guimarães. 2017. Network structure and selection asymmetry drive coevolution in species-rich antagonistic interactions. American Naturalist 190: 99-115.

Guimarães, P. R., M. M. Pires, P. Jordano, J. Bascompte, J. N. Thompson. 2017. Indirect effects drive coevolution in mutualistic networks. Nature 550: 511-514.

Guimarães, P.R., P. Jordano, J. N. Thompson. 2011. Evolution and coevolution in mutualistic networks. Ecology Letters 14: 877-885 [PDF].

Guimaraes, P.R., V. Rico-Gray, P. S. Oliveira, T. J. Izzo, S. F. dos Reis, J.N. Thompson. 2007. Interaction intimacy affects structure and coevolutionary dynamics in mutualistic networks. Current Biology 17: 1797-1803

Medeiros, L. P., G. Garcia, J. N. Thompson, P. R. Guimaraes. 2018. The geographic mosaic of coevolution in mutualistic networks. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA. 115: 12017-12022.

Structure and dynamics of ecological networks

We are interested on the characterization of the network behind multiple types of ecological interactions. In these studies we often integrate information on the natural history of ecological interactions and models of ecological dynamics and ecological assembly. More information please refer to:

Pires, M. M., F. M. D. Marquitti, P. R. Guimaraes. 2017. The friendship paradox in species-rich ecological networks: implications for conservation and monitoring. Biological Conservation 209: 245-252.

Lemos-Costa, P., M. M. Pires, M. S. Araujo, M. A. M. de Aguiar, P. R. Guimaraes. 2016. Network analyses support the role of prey preferences in shaping resource use patterns within five animal populations. Oikos 125:492-501.

Vidal, M. M., E. Hasui, M. A. Pizo, J. Y. Tamashiro, W. R. Silva, P. R. Guimaraes. 2014. Frugivores at higher risk of extinction are the key elements of a mutualistic network. Ecology 95: 3440–3447. [PDF] [F1000-Recommendation].

Pires, M. M., P. R. Guimaraes. 2013. Interaction intimacy organizes networks of antagonistic interactions in different ways. Journal of the Royal Society Interface 10: 20120649.[PDF]

Guimaraes, P. R., V. Rico-Gray, S. F. dos Reis, J.N. Thompson. 2006. Asymmetries in specialization in ant-plant mutualistic networks. Proceedings of the Royal Society of London B. 273: 2041-2047.

Ecological interactions in the past

We are interested in understand how species that are now extinct used to interact with other species in past ecological assemblages. We used empirical information on extinct organisms, statistical and mathematical models, and network science to explore two questions. First, how do patterns of interaction affect the fragility of past ecological assemblages to humans and environmental change. Second, how did the extinction of large vertebrates affect their extant partners. More information please refer to:

Galetti, M.. M. Moleon, M. M. Pires, P.R. Guimaraes, T. Pape, . Nichols, D. Hansen, J. Olesen, M. Munk, J. de Mattos, A. Schweiger, N. Owen-Smith, C. Johnson, R. Marquis, J. C. Svenning. Ecological and Evolutionary legacy of Megafauna Extinction. Biological Reviews (in press).

Pires, M. M., P. L. Koch, R. A. Farina, M. A. M. de Aguiar, S. F. dos Reis, P. R. Guimaraes . 2015. Pleistocene megafaunal interaction networks became more vulnerable after human arrival. Proceedings of the Royal Society of London B 282: 20151367. [PDF].

Yeakel J. D*, M. M. Pires*, L. Rudolf*, N. J. Dominy, P. L. Koch, P. R. Guimaraes, T. Gross. 2014. Collapse of an ecological network in Ancient Egypt. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA 111: 14472–14477. *contributed equally.

Vidal, M. M.*, M. M. Pires*, P. R. Guimaraes. 2013. Large vertebrates as the missing components of seed dispersal networks. Biological Conservation 163: 42-48. * contributed equally.

Guimaraes, P.R., M. Galetti, P. Jordano. 2008. Seed dispersal anachronisms: rethinking the fruits extinct megafauna ate. PLoS ONE 3: e1745. [PDF]

Artwork by Rodolfo G. Batista