EcoNet 2018: Ecological networks: spandrels, selection, and assembly Satellite of NetSci 2018 Paris, France, June 12, 2018 |
Conference website | https://liphlab.github.io/ |
Submission link | https://easychair.org/conferences/?conf=econet2018 |
The effect of ecological network structure on the dynamics, stability, and, ultimately, diversity of ecological communities has been the center of an ongoing debate in the past 45 years. For example, there is evidence that a nested network structure promotes species coexistence by minimizing competition but some studies have failed to recover that relationship. While the implications of network structure for community/population dynamics are well studied, we know very little regarding the effect of dynamics on the structure of networks. In particular, what is the relative contribution of species pruning resulting from community assembly dynamics vs. that of contingent processes (e.g., mutation, migration, etc) to structure? In the first scenario, ecological interactions are shaped by selection and their structure is optimized. In the second case, new evidence suggests that the non-random features of ecological networks may be spandrels -- null consequences of nontrivial constraints and the contingencies of the assembly process. The goal of this satellite is to explore how these two alternative processes contribute to the structure of ecological interactions and to explore whether, and how, they can be disentangled. This debate is crucial for our understanding of community assembly in particular and for understanding processes of network optimization in nature in general.
Submission Guidelines
Abstract submissions for 15-min talks will be graded accordingly to the following criteria:
- Interest of the proposal with respect to the topic of the satellite.
- Novelty of the research.
- Priority will be given to junior researchers (Ph.D. students and post-docs).
Organizing committee
- Samir Suweis
- Sonia Kefi
- Shai Pilosof
- Leonardo Saravia
- Filippo Simini
- Jacopo Grilli
Invited Speakers
- Stefano Allesina, University of Chicago
- Ricard Sole, Complex System Lab, UPF, Barcelona
- Elisa Thebault, CNRS, IEES-Paris, France
Venue
The Satellite is part of NetSci 2018 and will be held in Paris.