A novel model of realized niche evolution

2021 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K16222
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 45040:Ecology and environment-related
• Research Institution: The Museum of Nature and Human Activities, Hyogo (2020-2021); Ryukoku University (2019)
• Principal Investigator: Kyogoku Daisuke 兵庫県立人と自然の博物館, 兵庫県立人と自然の博物館, 研究員(移行) (00771875)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: 数理モデル / 繁殖干渉 / 実現ニッチ / 進化

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Resource utilization patterns of herbivorous insects are often inexplicable by their physiological constraints. By simulation modeling, this study showed that hybridization (or other forms of costly interspecific mating interactions) between closely related species can limit the diversity of resources they use, as a result of the evolution of habitat (e.g. host plant) preferences to avoid interspecific encounters. A literature survey was also carried out to examine the biological plausibility of a model assumption (the degree of physiological constraints). In addition, mathematical formulae to analyze the data compiled from the literature were developed.

Free Research Field

進化生態学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

生物の資源利用や生息地利用が決まる仕組みを理解することは生態系の管理や制御を行う上で重要である。たとえば農地における害虫の管理や、絶滅危惧種の保全も、資源利用・生息地利用の生態学的、進化学的な理解を必要とする。本研究は資源や生息地の利用パターンが進化する仕組みについて新たな概念を提案することで生態系の成り立ちを理解することに貢献する。また、このような理解は応用上の課題を解決する上での基礎理論となることが期待される。