Evolutionary community ecology of plant‐associated arthropods in terrestrial ecosystems

Abstract

In the 21st century, researchers have attempted a synthesis between community ecology and evolutionary biology. This emerging research area, which aims to synthesize community ecology and evolutionary biology, is evolutionary community ecology. Evolutionary community ecology addresses how intraspecific trait variation in community members is essential for predicting community properties and, how community properties are a key component of the selective forces that determine genetic and phenotypic variation in a community member. In this paper, I review recent findings in evolutionary community ecology in plantassociated arthropods in terrestrial ecosystems. I discuss roles of both genetic variation and phenotypic plasticity as a source of trait variation in plants in shaping plantassociated arthropod communities. Also, I discuss effects of genetic variation in herbivores on plant-associated arthropod communities. Furthermore, I highlight community context evolution in which multiple species interactions and community composition affect trait evolution of a community member. Finally, I argue that future studies should investigate a feedback loop between community and evolutionary dynamics beyond unidirectional studies on effects of evolution on a community or vice versa. This approach will provide major insights into mechanistic principles for making predictions of community ecology.

Plant‐derived differences in the composition of aphid honeydew and their effects on colonies of aphid‐tending ants

“…Feedbacks between the community ecology and evolution of organisms are important but remain poorly understood (Strauss et al 2005 ; Utsumi 2013 ). Plant–arthropod interactions are promising systems for studying such feedbacks.…”

Direct and indirect effects of marsupial browsing on a foundation tree species

“…Marsupial induced heterogeneity in tree height was important in determining the subsequent infestation of an invertebrate herbivore in this study. Such indirect effects have the potential to influence biotic community structure on a foundation species host‐plant, and the evolutionary interactions that occur between organisms and the host‐plant themselves (Utsumi , , Walsh ).…”

“…competition) based (Wise ). It is therefore becomingly increasingly clear that a multi‐species approach is required to fully understand the ecological and evolutionary dynamics between plants and their herbivores (Utsumi , , Walsh ).…”

Climate-Driven Reshuffling of Species and Genes: Potential Conservation Roles for Species Translocations and Recombinant Hybrid Genotypes

“…We were able to hand pair the Papilio species and get hybrids and backcrosses with differing concentrations of detoxication enzymes [ 248 ] that consequently were differentially susceptible to the subtle induced phytochemical changes from defoliation and fertilization ameliorization [ 225 , 249 ]. This emphasizes how the genetic continuum from hybrids and backcrosse insects can extend into community interactions [ 250 ] and how the evolution of community structure and composition depends on evolutionary phylogenetics as well as phytochemical composition [ 251 , 252 , 253 ]. The ability of Salicaceae-specialists to switch to novel host plants with little or no phenolic glycosides [ 254 ] can help them to escape from various natural enemies that cue in on these allelochemicals [ 255 ], facilitating potential adaptive radiation.…”