Ecological Networks in the Anthropocene: Impacts, Patterns, and Resilience

Fernando Gonçalves, Carine Emer

 Mutualistic interactions are the cornerstone of ecological networks, driving biodiversity and ecosystem resilience. However, the Anthropocene, a geological epoch marked by significant human impact, has disrupted these networks through habitat loss, climate change, pollution, and other stressors. This symposium will explore how natural and anthropogenic factors alter mutualistic interactions such as pollination, seed dispersal, herbivory, plant-fungus symbioses, plant–aphid-ant relationships, and predation. 

The session will address critical questions: How do these disruptions affect ecosystem functions, processes, and services? To what extent are mutualistic networks resilient or adaptable to environmental changes? By examining both ecological and evolutionary perspectives, the symposium seeks to illuminate the mechanisms underlying network stability and their broader implications for biodiversity conservation. 

Through interdisciplinary approaches, integrating field studies, modeling, and experimental research, this symposium will emphasize actionable insights for conservation strategies in tropical ecosystems. Attendees will gain a comprehensive understanding of how mutualistic interactions shape ecosystem dynamics and contribute to a sustainable world.