Details of Award
NERC Reference : NE/C517992/1
Phylogenetic structure and assembly of ecological communities: An integrated approach.
Fellowship Award
- Fellow:
- Dr M Cardillo, Imperial College London, Biological Sciences
- Grant held at:
- Imperial College London, Biological Sciences
- Science Area:
- Terrestrial
- Overall Classification:
- Terrestrial
- ENRIs:
- Natural Resource Management
- Biodiversity
- Science Topics:
- Population Genetics/Evolution
- Systematics & Taxonomy
- Conservation Ecology
- Community Ecology
- Abstract:
- One of the enduring problems of ecology is to explain the processes which govern the assembly of ecological communities from the pool of species inhabiting the wider region. Two such processes are (1) competition among species for resources, which may exclude species from a community if they are too ecologically similar to species already present; and (2) habitat filtering, which excludes species not suited to local environmental conditions. Using information on phylogeny (evolutionary relationships among species) is a powerful way of distinguishing these models of community assembly. If closely related species are ecologically similar, then under the competition model, close relatives are less likely to coexist, and species in a community should be less closely related, on average, than expected. Under the habitat-filtering model, close relatives should be more likely to coexist, as they share similar habitat preferences. Other predictions about phylogenetic community structure follow it there is little or no link between phylogenetic relatedness and ecological similarity. I will examine patterns phylogenetic community structure across large numbers of mammal communities worldwide, and plant communities within Britain, and search for any systematic large-scale variation with spatial scale and across geographical gradients. I will simulate the evolution of ecological traits and the assembly of communities to fine-tune predictions about expected phylogenetic community patterns under different scenarios. The project aims to test the generality of patterns of phylogenetic community structure and give new insights into the processes governing community assembly and local diversity.
- NERC Reference:
- NE/C517992/1
- Grant Stage:
- Completed
- Scheme:
- Postdoctoral Fellow
- Grant Status:
- Closed
- Programme:
- Postdoctoral Fellowship
This fellowship award has a total value of £154,457
FDAB - Financial Details (Award breakdown by headings)
| Total - Staff | Total - Other Costs |
|---|---|
| £125,956 | £28,500 |
If you need further help, please read the user guide.