Document: GOR-3-1-5

Evolutionary ecology: Dealing with ghosts of interactions past.

ORIANS, G.H.*

Department of Zoology, University of Washington, Seattle WA 98195 ¹

Abstract:
Current traits of organisms and interactions among them have been molded by long-term evolutionaty processes. As a result, ecological patterns and processes reflect ghosts of competition past, ghosts of predation past, ghosts of mutualisms past, and ghosts of hurricanes, floods, and volcanic eruptions past. Ignoring these ghosts does not cause them to disappear, but determining which features of organisms and ecological interactions are most strongly influenced by ghosts and when in the past these ghosts exerted their most powerful influences is a challenge. To identify and understand ghosts and their legacies, ecologists employ a variety of modeling techniques, behavioral manipulations, comparative approaches, and powerful methods of inferring phylogenetic relationships. What these studies have revealed is the focus of the talk.

Keywords: evolutionary ghosts

This abstract is being presented at: 8:15 AM in session:
Symposium # 1: Education and Human Resources Vice President's Symposium: Defining Ecological Thinking as a Goal for Ecology Education.