Eco-evolutionary dynamics at LTERs
Biologists increasingly recognize that ecological and evolutionary processes are closely linked. This is particularly relevant in the context of global change, where environmental conditions may change rapidly, and species may adapt to the novel conditions in a comparable timeframe. Unfortunately, studies that examine the interactions and feedback loops between evolutionary and ecological processes, particularly in long-term ecological studies, are rare. Long-Term Ecological Research (LTER) sites provide an extraordinary opportunity to examine eco-evolutionary dynamics because they include long-term observations of population, community, and ecosystem processes. Some LTER sites have maintained long-term experiments and collected publicly available data for over 40 years, making them an invaluable resource to answer important "eco-evo" questions.
To address the current gap in evolutionary research at LTER sites, we are organizing a NSF-funded working group that will bring together both ecologists and evolutionary biologists from diverse career stages and backgrounds. The working group will first identify barriers that exist to developing evolutionary research at LTER sites and second, will discuss how to overcome such barriers. In doing so, the working group will develop a framework for how to best implement future eco-evolutionary research in a long-term ecological research context. The working group will take place at Sevilleta LTER in early May 2022, with a hope of producing collaborations and publications across the ecology and evolutionary biology fields. Please stay tuned for the outcomes of the working group!
To address the current gap in evolutionary research at LTER sites, we are organizing a NSF-funded working group that will bring together both ecologists and evolutionary biologists from diverse career stages and backgrounds. The working group will first identify barriers that exist to developing evolutionary research at LTER sites and second, will discuss how to overcome such barriers. In doing so, the working group will develop a framework for how to best implement future eco-evolutionary research in a long-term ecological research context. The working group will take place at Sevilleta LTER in early May 2022, with a hope of producing collaborations and publications across the ecology and evolutionary biology fields. Please stay tuned for the outcomes of the working group!