RECOMBINE · RE-assembly and COMpetition during Biotic INterchangEs: consequences of old invasions on the evolutionary and ecological history of biotas
Horizon 2020 — Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions
- Duration
- 2021-02-01 → 2024-04-10
- EU contribution
- €263,827
- Participants
- 2
- Scheme
- MSCA-IF
Lines connect the coordinator with its partners.
Results in brief
RE-assembly and COMpetition during Biotic INterchangEs: consequences of old invasions on the evolutionary and ecological history of biotas
What are the Biotic interchanges? We are currently at a peak of Earth's biological diversity, despite recent extinctions caused by the human activities that define the Anthropocene. The Cenozoic, the current geological era, began about 66 million years ago with catastrophic events such as a large asteroid impact or major volcanic eruptions at global level, all of which were followed by significant tectonic movements, mountain liftings, and climatic oscillations. During this era, after an initial big mass extinction, many biological groups diversified rapidly, resulting in drastic changes in the composition of ecological communities. An important factor that shaped the current distribution of global biodiversity was biotic exchanges: movements of species between different biotas. The high tectonic activity of the Cenozoic caused a reorganization of the planet's land masses, which on the one hand continued the isolation of some biotas, and on the other hand facilitated the exchange of species between biotas with independent evolutionary histories. Why BI are important to society? The study of biotic interchanges led to major breakthroughs in our understanding of evolution, paleontology and geography. For example, A. R. Wallace’s observation of admixtures between distinct faunas across Wallace's Line gave rise to the field of global biogeography and informed the concept of natural selection. Through the study of extinct mammals across North and South America, Simpson realised the magnitude of historical intercontinental dispersals, breaking new ground in our understanding of the evolution and ecology of extant (and extinct) faunas in the world. The study of biotic interchanges continues to have the potential to make important advances in knowledge; with an ever-increasing rate of human-mediated invasions, the study of biotic interchanges could also hold key insights for the management and conservation of biota into the future. Despite the importance of biotic interchanges for understanding the assembly of extant biological communities, macroecological and macroevolutionary studies on biotic interchanges remain scarce. Objectives of the project Extensive data on evolutionary relationships and distribution of tetrapod species, through comprehensively-sampled fossil-calibrated phylogenies and big geographic distribution databases curated by experts and conservation organisations have recently been available. Paleoclimatic and tectonic reconstructions at global level have been made available as well. The methods to reconstruct ancestral biogeography, although still with lots of scope to improvement, have also reached some stability and curation in the last decade. Therefore, there is currently a unique and unprecedented opportunity to understand better the magnitude and importance of historical and contemporary biotic interchanges to explain the ecological assembly of current terrestrial vertebrate communities and how this affected their evolution and diversification.
Data: CORDIS, © European Union
Project objective
Biotic interchanges are invasions of species from one biota to another. During the Cenozoic, tectonic and glacial dynamics led to subsequent large-scale biotic interchanges that are considered key events for shaping the current global biodiversity. Here I propose to study the migration, speciation and extinction of terrestrial vertebrates at global scale to understand the reassembly of communities as landmass connectivity changed. I will use recently available data (such as comprehensive phylogenies calibrated with the fossil record and tectonic reconstructions) with new methods in macroevolutionary analysis. I propose this MSCA as a 3-year GF. One of the most cited research groups in the study of biogeography and evolution of vertebrate diversity (ANU, Australia) will host me during the outgoing phase, where data preparation, analyses and training in macroecology will be conducted. A secondment at the beginning of the outgoing phase, and the third year of return to the host organisation (ENS, France), with a leading group in macroevolution, will be devoted to training me in phylogenetic inference methods. I will gain expertise in macroecology and macroevolution, complementing my background in community ecology, ecophysiology and phylogeography, opening up the best career possibilities for me in the fields of biodiversity research and providing new collaboration opportunities for the host organisations. As my proposed approach is novel and the questions addressed are of high concern, the MSCA is expected to provide important advances in our understanding of biodiversity patterns as well as to promote new scientific pathways in the fields of macroecology, macroevolution and historical biogeography. A series of outreach activities will also contribute to public education and awareness of the unique biodiversity that we have in every continent and how historical invasions contributed to it.
Original text from CORDIS.
Participants
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Data: CORDIS, © European Union