Mutualistic Networks: Moving Towards a Predictive Theory

Explore the intricate world of plant-animal mutualistic networks and their crucial role in sustaining terrestrial biodiversity and human food security. Delve into cutting-edge research presented by Fernanda Valdovinos from the University of Michigan, focusing on developing predictive theories for plant-pollinator network responses to environmental changes. Examine theoretical models predicting pollinator foraging preferences, invasion dynamics, and interaction rewiring during severe droughts. Gain insights into the integration of human dynamics in ecological networks, with a brief look at food-web models applied to coupled natural-human systems in fisheries. This 59-minute lecture from the Santa Fe Institute offers a comprehensive overview of current efforts to understand and predict the complex dynamics of mutualistic networks in the face of environmental challenges.