Estudo e modelagem das dinâmicas estruturais de assembléias de formigas tropicais em diferentes escalas ecológicas

AUTOR(ES)
DATA DE PUBLICAÇÃO

2009

RESUMO

The ecological theory is built on models that can explain the relationships between organisms and their environment. However, if this is a science that integrates knowledge and benefited from interdisciplinary approaches due to the enormous complexity observed in ecosystems. In this context, the use of mathematical tools has been extremely important for the understanding of ecological systems. In this study ant assemblages in two areas of the Neotropics, Caxiuanã (Pará) and Volcan Barva (Costa Rica). From the analysis of their population dynamics and structures of dominance under different spatial scales and ecological (gender composition and feeding guilds) were developed computer models that help to assess some of the main support models to Theoretical Ecology. These models seek to explain both the dynamics and population structure but also the mechanisms and processes behind the functionality of so-called complex ecosystems. Considerable differences were observed in the structure of dominance of populations between the two ecological scales with different levels of information were obtained with each approach. The analysis under the range of genres showed great temporal instability associated with differences in configuration hierarchy between different spatial scales. In contrast, the analysis done under the range of feeding guilds showed relatively more stable behavior compared to those genres. These results were interpreted in light of two main theories, the "niche constructivism" and "complex adaptive systems." Finally, both theories have been linked, where the emergence of the features of the ecosystem with complex adaptive systems proved possible from the mechanisms niche construction.

ASSUNTO(S)

ecologia dinâmicas estruturais escalas ecológicas formigas tropicais

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