Periodic Reporting for period 4 - COMPCON (Competition under (niche) construction)
Berichtszeitraum: 2021-11-01 bis 2023-04-30
Data generated by COMPCON will strengthen the growing link between Ecology and Evolution, as it will test recent hypotheses concerning how individual variation, niche width, niche construction and competition interact to shape species distributions and trait evolution.
We have measured the individual variation for the fundamental and the realized niche in 20 isogenic lines. The data shows ample variation for these traits and also variation in the correlation across traits. We are finishing the data analysis.
We are measuring individual variation in niche construction (the ability to suppress plant defences).
We are performing comprehensive tests of individual niche variation in the fundamental and the realized niche and their potential correlation. This data set is unique in that (a) few studies have addressed the genetic basis of niche width and (b) none has addressed potential correlations among the fundamental and the realized niche width at the individual level. We will subsequently test how variation in individual niche width affects coexistence.
The data concerning individual variation in niche construction is as yet preliminary but it seems that we will find significant variation, which is very exciting. We will then use this data to test the effect of variation in niche construction in coexistence. We will also perform experimental evolution to test whether niche construction is maintained in an environment with cheaters or in which niche construction yields no benefit. This will be done after we finish the other experimental evolution protocol, due in September.