Project description
Coevolutionary outcomes in host-parasite communities
Host-parasite communities are species networks that constantly coevolve, affecting ecological processes like demographic dynamics and interaction distribution. However, conventional studies focus on individual host-parasite pairs and ignore the fast-paced effects of coevolution on community ecology, leading to an incomplete understanding of ecosystem dynamics. Supported by the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme, the OUTCOME project aims to predict coevolutionary outcomes in multiple host-parasite communities. It will use host-parasite interaction networks, coevolutionary footprints in whole-genome sequences, and dynamic network analysis. The project connects population genetics with interaction establishment and specificity, and builds statistical inference tools to predict changes in real-world ecosystems. OUTCOME combines studies on genomic coevolution, eco-evolutionary dynamics, and complex networks.
Objective
Host-parasite communities compose networks of interacting individuals of different species. These communities are constantly coevolving, i.e. reciprocal selective pressures. Coevolution produces ecological changes, such as dynamics in demographies or in the distribution of interactions. Such ecological changes may feedback to drive further evolution in the communities. However, coevolutionary research usually focuses on isolated host-parasite pairs, assuming that the ecological effects can be ignored. Similarly, ecological studies argue that coevolution is not fast enough to affect ecological processes. Hence, the reciprocal effect, or eco-evolutionary feedback, is generally ignored by both evolutionary and ecological studies when evaluating host-parasite interactions. These assumptions possibly lead us to inaccurate understanding of the processes driving host-parasite communities and ecosystem dynamics in general. I aim to infer and predict coevolutionary outcomes in communities of several host and parasite species from host-parasite interaction networks and demographic histories. I will develop a unique combination of coevolutionary footprints in whole-genome sequences with dynamic network analysis (i.e. the network changes the distribution of interactions according to selected genotypes over time). I will use theoretical models and simulated data to link population genetics with interaction establishment and specificity at the ecological community level. Using the theoretical models, I will finally build statistical inference tools to infer and predict changes in real-world ecosystems based on empirical genome and network data. OUTCOME brings together studies on genomic coevolution (Prof Tellier, TUM), eco-evolutionary dynamics in empirical communities (Dr Möst, UIBK), and communities as complex networks (Dr Llopis-Belenguer). It will result in an enriching two-way transfer of knowledge and a complete development of the candidate as an independent researcher.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
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CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- humanities history and archaeology history
- social sciences sociology demography
- natural sciences biological sciences evolutionary biology
- natural sciences biological sciences ecology ecosystems
- natural sciences biological sciences genetics genomes
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Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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HORIZON.1.2 - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA)
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Topic(s)
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Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
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Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
HORIZON-TMA-MSCA-PF-EF - HORIZON TMA MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
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Call for proposal
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Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) HORIZON-MSCA-2023-PF-01
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80333 Muenchen
Germany
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