Merging evolutionary history into species interaction networks

Summary The occurrence of complex networks of interactions among species not only relies on species co‐occurrence, but also on inherited traits and evolutionary events imprinted in species phylogenies. The phylogenetic signal found in ecological networks suggests that evolution plays an important role in determining community assembly and hence could inform about the underpinning mechanisms. The aim of this study was to review the main findings and methodological approaches used for detecting phylogenetic signal in species interaction networks, particularly in different aspects of network structure: conservatism of interactions, modularity, connectivity and nestedness. In general, studies show that species phylogenies determine interacting partners, module composition, species roles and nested patterns, although these influences are not always consistent across different interaction types. The relative importance of phylogeny to network structure, as well as the scale dependence of phylogenetic signal, denotes key areas for future research. Phylogenetically informed network ecology represents a promising field for understanding species interaction patterns, community assembly processes and dynamics. It can also provide important information for predicting community changes and improving management practices. A lay summary is available for this article. Lay Summary