The core work conducted over the course of the project, represents three major types of work, as proposed in the original project proposal. Details are as follows.
First, we conducted five spring seasons of field sampling and associated analysis. These seasons were highly successful. We collected extensive samples and data on insect adaptation, insect abundance, the structure and diversity of insect communities, and plant chemical profiles. This formed the base for testing associations between adaptation within species (evolution) and ecological variables such as the species richness of communities.
Second, we conducted multiple field experiments. This is important because although observational sampling is required to establish natural patterns of the association between evolution and ecology, such correlative data cannot test causal associations (i.e. driving mechanisms) between evolution and ecology. Most critically, experiments are required to test for reciprocal feedback between evolutionary and ecological dynamics. These experiments revealed how dynamic changes in both natural selection and dispersal can stabilise ecological communities, generating resilience that prevents large-scale collapse and change of ecological communities.
Third, we conducted genomic data collection and analysis in order to understand the origin and maintenance of genetic variation in the key insect traits underlying eco-evolutionary dynamics. This work has focused on understanding the genetic basis of stick-insect colour and colour-pattern, because it is these traits that affect ecological dynamics via their effects on camouflage, and thus the attraction of bird and lizard predators that eat insects. This work revealed that colours and colour-pattern often involve large-scale mutations and complex genome re-arrangements, that may have evolved via genetic feedback loops between different genes within a chromosome. These results increase understanding of how the evolution of specific adaptations and characteristics of organisms affect ecological dynamics.
The collective results have been broadly disseminated, via conference presentations of the Principle Investigator and project team members, and most critically by numerous peer-reviewed publications in top scientific journals such as Science, Nature Ecology and Evolution, Science Advances, PNAS, Current Biology, Evolution Letters, etc.
