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In nature, there are many variations among individuals within the same species. Intraspecific variation is an important component of biodiversity. Why does intraspecific variation exist so commonly along with the coexistence of many species in an ecosystem? What is the role of such intraspecific variation in determining ecosystem dynamics and patterns?
Our research center upon intraspecific variation and feedback that reciprocally intertwine evolutionary dynamics with ecological properties including population dynamics, community structure, and ecosystem functions. How intraspecific variation in traits determines higher-level attributes, such as population dynamics, species composition, and ecosystem functions? Or, conversely, how do properties at community and ecosystem levels orchestrate variation in individual traits, genetic diversity, and evolutionary trajectories? From this perspective, we explore the profound implications of evolution on the coexistence of multiple species, population persistence, community dynamics, and ecosystem functioning.

Nodules of nitrogen fixing bacteria, Frankia, on the alder root.

White clovers under adaptive evoltion to anthropogenic environments.

Rapid evolution is occuring in introduced organisms. Photos: tall goldenrod and large earth bumblebee (both are invasive species).

References

Furusawa, J., Makoto, K., Utsumi, S. (2023) A large-scale field experiment of artificially caused landslides with replications revealed the response of the ground-dwelling beetle community to landslides. Ecology and Evolution 13: e9939  https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.9939

Kagiya, S., Yasugi, M. Kudoh, H., Nagano, A-J., Utsumi, S. (2018) Does genomic variation in a foundation species predict arthropod community structure in a riparian forest? Molecular Ecology 27: 1284-1295  https://doi.org/10.1111/mec.14515

Utsumi, S. (2015). Feeding evolution of a herbivore influences an arthropod community through plants: implications for plant‐mediated eco‐evolutionary feedback loop. Journal of Ecology 103: 829-839.  https://doi.org/10.1111/1365-2745.12419

Sota, Kagata, Ando, Utsumi, Osono. (2013) Species diversity and community structure: novel patterns and processes in plants, insects, and fungi. Springer.