An ecological and evolutionary perspective on species coexistence under global change

Abstract

Whether assemblages of insect species locally coexist or are only being slowly lost from communities remains an enduring question. Addressing this question is especially critical in the wake of global change, which is expected to reshuffle biological communities and create novel interspecific interactions. In reviewing studies of putative insect species coexistence, we find that few have demonstrated necessary criteria to conclude that species coexist. We also find that few integrate ecological and evolutionary perspectives towards understanding coexistence. Yet, both micro-evolutionary and macroevolutionary processes can play a critical role in shaping species coexistence mechanisms, especially in response to global change. We suggest that understanding how global change may affect the makeup of communities can be best achieved by developing a research program focused on the joint contribution of ecological and evolutionary processes.