Award Abstract #0083468
BIOCOMPLEXITY-Evolution and Ecology of Perturbed Interactions: Modeling Disequilibria in Time and Space

NSF Org:	DMS Division of Mathematical Sciences
Initial Amendment Date:	September 18, 2000
Latest Amendment Date:	June 27, 2006
Award Number:	0083468
Award Instrument:	Standard Grant
Program Manager:	Mary Ann Horn DMS Division of Mathematical Sciences MPS Directorate for Mathematical & Physical Sciences
Start Date:	September 1, 2000
Expires:	August 31, 2007 (Estimated)
Awarded Amount to Date:	$3037897
Investigator(s):	Claudia Neuhauser neuha001@umn.edu (Principal Investigator) Donald Alstad (Co-Principal Investigator) Peter Graham (Co-Principal Investigator) Georgiana May (Co-Principal Investigator) Ruth Shaw (Co-Principal Investigator)
Sponsor:	University of Minnesota-Twin Cities 200 OAK ST SE MINNEAPOLIS, MN 55455 612/624-5599
NSF Program(s):	BE: NON-ANNOUNCEMENT RESEARCH, BIOCOMPLEXITY, POPULATION DYNAMICS
Field Application(s):	0000099 Other Applications NEC
Program Reference Code(s):	SMET,OTHR,9251,9178,1355,1263,0000
Program Element Code(s):	1629,1366,1174

ABSTRACT

Perturbation of biological communities, exemplified by habitat loss and the invasion of novel taxa is well documented. Economic development, new technologies, and population pressure have escalated the scale, frequency, and severity of such perturbations. As a result, evolutionary and ecological dynamics may be driven so far from their equilibria that the linear approximations used for understanding and predicting consequences of subtle perturbations are inappropriate and probably misleading. To elucidate the consequences of massive perturbations in biological communities, a spatially explicit model whose dynamics are complicated by ecological, genetic, and historical factors, is proposed. Studies on (i) corn smut and corn, (ii) rhizobia associated with common bean, (iii) corn borer and genetically modified Bt and non-Bt corn, and (iv) prairie plants and their pollinators provide the empirical basis that are framed by the general model of interactions between hosts and their associates. A hierarchy of models at different spatial scales will determine the evolutionary and ecological role of different factors at the different spatial scales. In addition, statistical tools are used to develop and analyze data of genetic diversity under non-equilibrium conditions using both temporal and spatial information.

Understanding the complex interactions between the members of communities undergoing such massive perturbations and their evolutionary and ecological consequences requires the integration of empirical work and mathematical models across temporal and spatial scales. The empirical studies represent examples of large perturbations that occurred either in the past (as in (i) and (ii)) or in the present (as in (iii) and (iv)). The historical studies allow testing the predictability of the theoretical models to assess the accuracy of the predictions for the consequences of massive perturbations that occur presently. The perturbations consist (1) of the introduction of novel organisms or (2) of habitat destruction, both at a large spatial scale: Corn and beans were moved from South and Central America to North America in the past carrying with them microorganism that, after introduction, competed with already present microorganisms. Bt corn is currently being introduced in North America as a control mechanism for the European corn borer, a devastating pest of corn; Bt corn is introduced at a large spatial scale that introduces large selection pressure on the evolution of resistance to Bt corn, which will make this control mechanism ineffective. Habitat destruction is an ongoing process affecting nearly every natural community in North America and in other parts of the world leading to loss in biodiversity. The goal is to predict the evolutionary and ecological consequences of large range expansions and contractions of plants on their associated biological communities in order to better manage natural and agricultural systems.

PUBLICATIONS PRODUCED AS A RESULT OF THIS RESEARCH

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Andow, D.A and C. Zwahlen..  "Assessing environmental risks of transgenic plants.,"  Ecology Letters,  v.9,  2006,  p. 196.

Andow, D.A..  "Patterns of feeding and mortality of adult European corn borer (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) in the laboratory.,"  Annals of the Entomological Society of America,  v.94,  2001,  p. 563.

Barnes, C. W., Szabo, L. J., May, G., Groth, J. V..  "Inbreeding levels of two Ustilago maydis populations.,"  Mycologia,  v.96,  2004,  p. 1236.

Baumgarten, A., Suresh, J, May, G., Phillips, R. L..  "Mapping QTLs contributing to Ustilago maydis resistance in specific tissues of plants using two recombinant inbred populations of maize,"  Theor Appl Genet.,  v.114,  2007,  p. 1229.

Beauregard, M.S., Seguin, P., Sheaffer, C.C. and Graham, P.H.,.  "Characterization and evaluation of North American Trifolium ambiguum- nodulating rhizobia ,"  Biol. Fertil. Soils,  v.38,  2003,  p. 311.

Bernal, G.R., Tlusty, B., Estevez de Jensen, C., van Berkum, P. and + Graham, P.H.  "Characteristics of rhizobia nodulating beans in the Central region of Minnesota,"  . Can. J. Microbiol,  v.51,  2005,  p. 15-23.

Byun, J., Sheaffer, C.C., Russelle, M.P., Ehlke, N.J., Wyse, D.L. and Graham, P.H. , .  "Dinitrogen fixation in Illinois bundleflower,"  Crop Sci,  v.44,  2004,  p. 493.

Davis, M.B., R.G. Shaw, and J.R. Etterson.  "Evolutionary responses to changing climate,"  Ecology,  v.86,  2005,  p. 1704.

G. Bernal and P.H. Graham.  "Diversity in the Rhizobia associated with Phaseolus vulgaris L. in Ecuador, and comparisons with Mexican bean Rhizobia,"  Canadian Journal of Microbiology 47,  v.47,  2001,  p. 526.

Graham, P.H. and Vance, C.P..  "Legumes: Importance and constraints to greater use ,"  Plant Physiol.,  v.131,  2003,  p. 872.

Graham, P.H. et al.  "Rhizobia associated with beans in the central region of Minnesota.,"  Can. J. Microbiol.,  v.50,  2004,  p. 1023-1031.

Graham, P.H. et al..  "Addressing edaphic constraints to bean production: the Bean/Cowpea CRSP project in perspective ,"  Field Crops Research,  v.82,  2003,  p. 277.

Harmon, J.P., J.A. White and D.A. Andow.  "Oviposition behavior of European corn borer, Ostrinia nubilalis (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) in response to potential intra- and interspecific interactions,"  Environmental Entomology,  v.32,  2003,  p. 334.

Harmon. J.P. and D.A. Andow.  "Indirect effects between shared prey: Predictions for biological control.,"  BioControl,  v.49,  2004,  p. 605.

Heimpel, G.E., C. Neuhauser & M. Hoogendoorn. 2003..  "Effects of parasitoid fecundity and host resistance on indirect interactions in host-parasitoid population dynamics.,"  Ecology Letters,  v.6,  2003,  p. 556.

Heimpel, G.E., C. Neuhauser and D.A. Andow.  "Natural enemies and the rate of resistance evolution to transgenic insecticidal crops by pest insects: The role of egg mortality.,"  Environmental Entomology,  v.34,  2005,  p. 512.

Heimpel, G.E., C. Neuhauser, & M. Hoogendoorn.  "Effects of parasitoid fecundity and host resistance on indirect interactions among hosts sharing a parasitoid,"  Ecology Letters,  v.6,  2003,  p. 556.

Hoogendoorn, M. & G.E. Heimpel.  "Competitive interactions between an exotic and a native ladybeetle: a field cage study,"  . Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata,  v.11,  2004,  p. 19.

Hoogendoorn, M. & G.E. Heimpel.  "Indirect interactions between an introduced and a native ladybird beetle species mediated by a shared parasitoid.,"  Biological Control,  v.25,  2002,  p. 224.

Munkacsi, A., Stoxen, S. and May. G..  "Domestication and cultivation of maize did not drive speciation in the pathogen,"  Evolution,  v.61,  2007,  p. 3.


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