Abstract Because genes and phenotypes are embedded within individuals, and individuals within populations, interactions within one level of biological organization are inherently linked to interactors at others. Here, we expand the network paradigm to consider that nodes can be embedded within other nodes, and connections (edges) between nodes at one level of organization form “bridges” for connections between nodes embedded within them. Such hierarchically embedded networks highlight two central properties of biological systems: 1) processes occurring across multiple levels of organization shape connections among biological units at any given level of organization and 2) ecological effects occurring at a given level of organization can propagate up or down to additional levels. Explicitly considering the embedded structure of evolutionary and ecological networks can capture otherwise hidden feedbacks and generate new insights into key biological phenomena, ultimately promoting a broader understanding of interactions in evolutionary theory.

中文翻译：

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分层嵌入的交互网络代表了行为和社区生态学研究中缺失的一环


摘要 由于基因和表型嵌入个体内部，以及群体内部的个体，生物组织某一级别内的相互作用与其他级别的相互作用者有着内在的联系。在这里，我们扩展了网络范式，考虑节点可以嵌入其他节点中，并且组织级别上的节点之间的连接（边）形成嵌入其中的节点之间的连接的“桥梁”。这种分层嵌入的网络突出了生物系统的两个核心属性：1）跨多个组织级别发生的过程形成了任何给定组织级别的生物单元之间的联系；2）在给定组织级别发生的生态效应可以向上或向下传播到额外的级别。明确考虑进化和生态网络的嵌入结构可以捕获原本隐藏的反馈，并产生对关键生物现象的新见解，最终促进对进化理论中相互作用的更广泛理解。