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DA Silva LP, Coutinho AP, Ramos JA, Heleno RH. Anthropogenic forests simplify seed- but not pollen-dispersal networks. Integr Zool 2024. [PMID: 39011657 DOI: 10.1111/1749-4877.12868] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/17/2024]
Abstract
Natural native forests are rapidly being replaced by anthropogenic forests often with a strong presence of invasive alien plant species. Eucalypt species are widely planted worldwide, with Eucalyptus globulus plantations being particularly expressive in Portugal. Poor forestry practices often lead to the associated expansion of invasive species, such as Acacia dealbata. However, we still know relatively little about the functioning of anthropogenic forests, such as seed and pollen dispersal services. Here, we compared bird abundance and richness and the seed and pollen dispersal networks in both forest types. Anthropogenic forests presented lower bird abundance, and smaller, more simplified, and more random (abundance-based) seed dispersal services than those of natural forests. Interestingly, the pollen dispersal network was more similar than the seed dispersal network for both forest types and dominated by opportunistic and neutral processes, given the absence of specialized nectarivorous. The proportion of birds transporting seeds decreased, while those carrying pollen significantly increased in the anthropogenic forest compared to the native forest. Our work highlights the impact of anthropogenic forests on bird abundance, with consequences for seed dispersal services and forest regeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luis P DA Silva
- CIBIO, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, InBIO Laboratório Associado, Universidade do Porto, Vairão, Portugal
- BIOPOLIS Program in Genomics, Biodiversity and Land Planning, CIBIO, Vairão, Portugal
| | - António Pereira Coutinho
- CFE-Centre for Functional Ecology, Department of Life Sciences, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Jaime A Ramos
- MARE-Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre, Department of Life Sciences, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Ruben H Heleno
- CFE-Centre for Functional Ecology, Department of Life Sciences, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
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2
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García Y, Giménez-Benavides L, Iriondo JM, Lara-Romero C, Méndez M, Morente-López J, Santamaría S. Addition of nocturnal pollinators modifies the structure of pollination networks. Sci Rep 2024; 14:1226. [PMID: 38216624 PMCID: PMC10786900 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-49944-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2023] [Accepted: 12/13/2023] [Indexed: 01/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Although the ecological network approach has substantially contributed to the study of plant-pollinator interactions, current understanding of their functional structure is biased towards diurnal pollinators. Nocturnal pollinators have been systematically ignored despite the publication of several studies that have tried to alleviate this diurnal bias. Here, we explored whether adding this neglected group of pollinators had a relevant effect on the overall architecture of three high mountain plant-pollinator networks. Including nocturnal moth pollinators modified network properties by decreasing total connectivity, connectance, nestedness and robustness to plant extinction; and increasing web asymmetry and modularity. Nocturnal moths were not preferentially connected to the most linked plants of the networks, and they were grouped into a specific "night" module in only one of the three networks. Our results indicate that ignoring the nocturnal component of plant-pollinator networks may cause changes in network properties different from those expected from random undersampling of diurnal pollinators. Consequently, the neglect of nocturnal interactions may provide a distorted view of the structure of plant-pollinator networks with relevant implications for conservation assessments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yedra García
- Area of Biodiversity and Conservation, ESCET, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, C/Tulipán s/n, Móstoles, E-28933, Madrid, Spain
- Department of Biology, Lund University, SE-223 62, Lund, Sweden
| | - Luis Giménez-Benavides
- Area of Biodiversity and Conservation, ESCET, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, C/Tulipán s/n, Móstoles, E-28933, Madrid, Spain
| | - José M Iriondo
- Area of Biodiversity and Conservation, ESCET, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, C/Tulipán s/n, Móstoles, E-28933, Madrid, Spain
| | - Carlos Lara-Romero
- Area of Biodiversity and Conservation, ESCET, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, C/Tulipán s/n, Móstoles, E-28933, Madrid, Spain.
| | - Marcos Méndez
- Area of Biodiversity and Conservation, ESCET, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, C/Tulipán s/n, Móstoles, E-28933, Madrid, Spain
| | - Javier Morente-López
- Area of Biodiversity and Conservation, ESCET, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, C/Tulipán s/n, Móstoles, E-28933, Madrid, Spain
- Island Ecology and Evolution Research Group, Instituto de Productos Naturales y Agrobiología (IPNA-CSIC), Avda. Astrofísico Francisco Sánchez 3, E-38206, San Cristóbal de La Laguna, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain
| | - Silvia Santamaría
- Area of Biodiversity and Conservation, ESCET, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, C/Tulipán s/n, Móstoles, E-28933, Madrid, Spain
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3
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Chiu CH, Chao A, Vogel S, Kriegel P, Thorn S. Quantifying and estimating ecological network diversity based on incomplete sampling data. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2023; 378:20220183. [PMID: 37246386 PMCID: PMC10225855 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2022.0183] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2022] [Accepted: 02/01/2023] [Indexed: 05/30/2023] Open
Abstract
An ecological network refers to the ecological interactions among sets of species. Quantification of ecological network diversity and related sampling/estimation challenges have explicit analogues in species diversity research. A unified framework based on Hill numbers and their generalizations was developed to quantify taxonomic, phylogenetic and functional diversity. Drawing on this unified framework, we propose three dimensions of network diversity that incorporate the frequency (or strength) of interactions, species phylogenies and traits. As with surveys in species inventories, nearly all network studies are based on sampling data and thus also suffer from under-sampling effects. Adapting the sampling/estimation theory and the iNEXT (interpolation/extrapolation) standardization developed for species diversity research, we propose the iNEXT.link method to analyse network sampling data. The proposed method integrates the following four inference procedures: (i) assessment of sample completeness of networks; (ii) asymptotic analysis via estimating the true network diversity; (iii) non-asymptotic analysis based on standardizing sample completeness via rarefaction and extrapolation with network diversity; and (iv) estimation of the degree of unevenness or specialization in networks based on standardized diversity. Interaction data between European trees and saproxylic beetles are used to illustrate the proposed procedures. The software iNEXT.link has been developed to facilitate all computations and graphics. This article is part of the theme issue 'Detecting and attributing the causes of biodiversity change: needs, gaps and solutions'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chun-Huo Chiu
- Department of Agronomy, National Taiwan University, Taipei 10617, Taiwan
| | - Anne Chao
- Institute of Statistics, National Tsing Hua University, Hsin-Chu 30043, Taiwan
| | - Sebastian Vogel
- Bavarian Environment Agency, Biodiversitätszentrum Rhön, Marktplatz 11, 97653 Bischofsheim i.d.R., Germany
| | - Peter Kriegel
- Field Station Fabrikschleichach, Biocenter, University of Würzburg, Glashüttenstr. 5, 96181 Rauhenebrach, Germany
| | - Simon Thorn
- Hessian Agency for Nature Conservation, Environment and Geology, Biodiversity Center, Europastraße 10, 35394 Gießen, Germany
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4
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Swain A, Azevedo-Schmidt LE, Maccracken SA, Currano ED, Dunne JA, Labandeira CC, Fagan WF. Sampling bias and the robustness of ecological metrics for plant-damage-type association networks. Ecology 2023; 104:e3922. [PMID: 36415050 DOI: 10.1002/ecy.3922] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2022] [Accepted: 10/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Plants and their insect herbivores have been a dominant component of the terrestrial ecological landscape for the past 410 million years and feature intricate evolutionary patterns and co-dependencies. A complex systems perspective allows for both detailed resolution of these evolutionary relationships as well as comparison and synthesis across systems. Using proxy data of insect herbivore damage (denoted by the damage type or DT) preserved on fossil leaves, functional bipartite network representations provide insights into how plant-insect associations depend on geological time, paleogeographical space, and environmental variables such as temperature and precipitation. However, the metrics measured from such networks are prone to sampling bias. Such sensitivity is of special concern for plant-DT association networks in paleontological settings where sampling effort is often severely limited. Here, we explore the sensitivity of functional bipartite network metrics to sampling intensity and identify sampling thresholds above which metrics appear robust to sampling effort. Across a broad range of sampling efforts, we find network metrics to be less affected by sampling bias and/or sample size than richness metrics, which are routinely used in studies of fossil plant-DT interactions. These results provide reassurance that cross-comparisons of plant-DT networks offer insights into network structure and function and support their widespread use in paleoecology. Moreover, these findings suggest novel opportunities for using plant-DT networks in neontological terrestrial ecology to understand functional aspects of insect herbivory across geological time, environmental perturbations, and geographic space.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anshuman Swain
- Department of Biology, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, USA.,Department of Paleobiology, National Museum of Natural History, Washington, District of Columbia, USA.,Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Lauren E Azevedo-Schmidt
- Department of Botany, University of Wyoming, Laramie, Wyoming, USA.,Climate Change Institute, University of Maine, Orono, Maine, USA
| | - S Augusta Maccracken
- Department of Paleobiology, National Museum of Natural History, Washington, District of Columbia, USA.,Department of Earth Sciences, Denver Museum of Nature & Science, Denver, Colorado, USA
| | - Ellen D Currano
- Department of Botany, University of Wyoming, Laramie, Wyoming, USA.,Department of Geology & Geophysics, University of Wyoming, Laramie, Wyoming, USA
| | | | - Conrad C Labandeira
- Department of Paleobiology, National Museum of Natural History, Washington, District of Columbia, USA.,Department of Entomology, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, USA.,College of Life Sciences and Academy for Multidisciplinary Studies, Capital Normal University, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - William F Fagan
- Department of Biology, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, USA
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5
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Durand‐Bessart C, Cordeiro NJ, Chapman CA, Abernethy K, Forget P, Fontaine C, Bretagnolle F. Trait matching and sampling effort shape the structure of the frugivory network in Afrotropical forests. THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2023; 237:1446-1462. [PMID: 36377098 PMCID: PMC10108259 DOI: 10.1111/nph.18619] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2021] [Accepted: 10/13/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Frugivory in tropical forests is a major ecological process as most tree species rely on frugivores to disperse their seeds. However, the underlying mechanisms driving frugivore-plant networks remain understudied. Here, we evaluate the data available on the Afrotropical frugivory network to identify structural properties, as well as assess knowledge gaps. We assembled a database of frugivory interactions from the literature with > 10 000 links, between 807 tree and 285 frugivore species. We analysed the network structure using a block model that groups species with similar interaction patterns and estimates interaction probabilities among them. We investigated the species traits related to this grouping structure. This frugivory network was simplified into 14 tree and 14 frugivore blocks. The block structure depended on the sampling effort among species: Large mammals were better-studied, while smaller frugivores were the least studied. Species traits related to frugivory were strong predictors of the species composition of blocks and interactions among them. Fruits from larger trees were consumed by most frugivores, and large frugivores had higher probabilities to consume larger fruits. To conclude, this large-scale frugivory network was mainly structured by species traits involved in frugivory, and as expected by the distribution areas of species, while still being limited by sampling incompleteness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clémentine Durand‐Bessart
- Biogeosciences, UMR 6282Université Bourgogne Franche Comte‐CNRS21000DijonFrance
- Centre d'Ecologie et des Sciences de la ConservationCESCO, UMR 7204, MNHN‐CNRS‐SU75005ParisFrance
| | - Norbert J. Cordeiro
- Department of Biology (mc WB 816)Roosevelt University430 S. Michigan AvenueChicagoIL60605USA
- Science & EducationThe Field Museum1400 S. Lake Shore DriveChicagoIL60605USA
| | - Colin A. Chapman
- Wilson Center1300 Pennsylvania Avenue NWWashingtonDC20004USA
- Department of AnthropologyCenter for the Advanced Study of Human Paleobiology, The George Washington UniversityWashingtonDC20037USA
- School of Life SciencesUniversity of KwaZulu‐NatalScottsville3201PietermaritzburgSouth Africa
- Shaanxi Key Laboratory for Animal ConservationNorthwest University710069Xi'anChina
| | - Katharine Abernethy
- African Forest Ecology Group, School of Natural SciencesUniversity of StirlingStirlingFK9 4LAUK
- Institut de Recherches en Ecologie TropicaleCENARESTGros Bouquet2144LibrevilleGabon
| | - Pierre‐Michel Forget
- Muséum National d'Histoire NaturelleUMR 7179 MECADEV CNRS‐MNHN1 Avenue du Petit Château91800BrunoyFrance
| | - Colin Fontaine
- Centre d'Ecologie et des Sciences de la ConservationCESCO, UMR 7204, MNHN‐CNRS‐SU75005ParisFrance
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6
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Rejmánek M. Book Review: On ecological networks and biological invasions. NEOBIOTA 2023. [DOI: 10.3897/neobiota.81.99512] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
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7
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Wang G, Huang Y, Yao W, Huang Q, Huang Y, Wei L, Zhou Q. Structure and characteristics of the plant-frugivore bird network from the Guilin Botanical Garden. PeerJ 2023; 11:e15028. [PMID: 36945357 PMCID: PMC10024898 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.15028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2022] [Accepted: 02/17/2023] [Indexed: 03/18/2023] Open
Abstract
The interaction between plants and frugivores is crucial to ecosystem function and community diversity. However, little is known about the interaction between plants and frugivorous bird species in urban green spaces. We observed interactions between plants and frugivorous birds in the Guilin Botanical Garden for one year and determined the structure and characteristics of the interaction network. We also analyzed the impact of species traits on their network roles. Interactions between 14 frugivorous birds and 13 fruit plant species were recorded in the study area. Autumn interactions comprised 38.79% of the overall network, and winter interactions comprised 33.15%. The modularity (Q, z-score) of the network was higher in autumn; the weighted nestedness (wNODF, z-score) and interaction evenness (E2 , z-score) of the network were higher in winter; the connectance (C, z-score) and interaction diversity (z-score) of the network were higher in spring; and the specialization (H2', z-score) of the network was higher in summer. The observed network showed lower C, lower interaction H2 , lower E2 , lower wNODF, higher H2' and higher Q when compared to the random networks. The bird species most important to network stability were Hemixos castanonotus, Parus venustulus, and Pycnonotus sinensis. The most important plant species were Alocasia macrorrhiza, Cinnamomum camphora, and Machilus nanmu. Of all the bird and plant traits included in this study, only plant color had a significant impact on species strength, with black fruit having a higher species strength. Our results suggest that interaction networks in urban green spaces can be temporally complex and variable and that a network approach can be an important monitoring tool for detecting the status of crucial ecosystem functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guohai Wang
- College of Chemistry and Bioengineering, Guangxi Normal University for Nationalities, Chongzuo, Guangxi, China
- Key Laboratory of Ecology of Rare and Endangered Species and Environmental Protection, Ministry of Education; Guangxi Key Laboratory of Rare and Endangered Animal Ecology, Guangxi Normal University, Guilin, Guangxi, China
| | - Yang Huang
- Key Laboratory of Ecology of Rare and Endangered Species and Environmental Protection, Ministry of Education; Guangxi Key Laboratory of Rare and Endangered Animal Ecology, Guangxi Normal University, Guilin, Guangxi, China
| | - Wei Yao
- Key Laboratory of Ecology of Rare and Endangered Species and Environmental Protection, Ministry of Education; Guangxi Key Laboratory of Rare and Endangered Animal Ecology, Guangxi Normal University, Guilin, Guangxi, China
| | - Qiuchan Huang
- College of Chemistry and Bioengineering, Guangxi Normal University for Nationalities, Chongzuo, Guangxi, China
| | - Yongping Huang
- College of Mathematics, Physics and Electronic Information Engineering, Guangxi Normal University for Nationalities, Chongzuo, Guangxi, China
| | - Lijuan Wei
- College of Mathematics, Physics and Electronic Information Engineering, Guangxi Normal University for Nationalities, Chongzuo, Guangxi, China
| | - Qihai Zhou
- Key Laboratory of Ecology of Rare and Endangered Species and Environmental Protection, Ministry of Education; Guangxi Key Laboratory of Rare and Endangered Animal Ecology, Guangxi Normal University, Guilin, Guangxi, China
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8
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Rumeu B, González‐Varo JP, de Castro C, López‐Orta A, Illera JC, Miñarro M, García D. Increasing efficiency and reducing bias in the sampling of seed–dispersal interactions based on mist‐netted birds. OIKOS 2022. [DOI: 10.1111/oik.09261] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Beatriz Rumeu
- Depto de Biología – IVAGRO, Univ. de Cádiz Puerto Real Spain
| | | | - Cristina de Castro
- Depto de Biología de Organismos y Sistemas (Univ. de Oviedo) and: Inst. Mixto de Investigación en Biodiversidad (Univ. Oviedo‐CSIC‐Princ. Asturias) Mieres Spain
| | - Antonio López‐Orta
- Inst. Mixto de Investigación en Biodiversidad (Univ. Oviedo‐CSIC‐Princ. Asturias), Univ. de Oviedo Mieres Spain
| | - Juan Carlos Illera
- Inst. Mixto de Investigación en Biodiversidad (Univ. Oviedo‐CSIC‐Princ. Asturias), Univ. de Oviedo Mieres Spain
| | - Marcos Miñarro
- Servicio Regional de Investigación y Desarrollo Agroalimentario (SERIDA) Villaviciosa Spain
| | - Daniel García
- Depto de Biología de Organismos y Sistemas (Univ. de Oviedo) and: Inst. Mixto de Investigación en Biodiversidad (Univ. Oviedo‐CSIC‐Princ. Asturias) Mieres Spain
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9
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Vitorino BD, Frota AVBD, Maruyama PK, Nunes JRDS, Vizentin-Bugoni J. Influence of sampling methods on the description of a Neotropical seed dispersal network. ACTA OECOLOGICA 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.actao.2021.103805] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
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10
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Response of avian and mammal seed dispersal networks to human-induced forest edges in a sub-humid tropical forest. JOURNAL OF TROPICAL ECOLOGY 2022. [DOI: 10.1017/s0266467422000062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Species-rich ecosystems as tropical forests are extremely vulnerable to anthropogenic destruction. Most tropical plant species rely on animals to disperse their seeds. However, patterns of mutualistic interactions have rarely been explored, and seed dispersal networks are still poorly studied in Africa. Here, we examine how forest edges’ (FE) seed dispersal networks differ from the mature forest (MF) at a West African sub-humid tropical forest within the National Park of Cantanhez (Guinea-Bissau). Additionally, we explore species’ roles within the network. MF had higher fruit availability, more frugivore visitors, and plant–frugivore interactions. Network structure was quite similar between habitats, showing signs of redundancy, and some robustness to species’ extinction. FE was more nested, modular, and specialized, whereas MF had higher connectance, interaction evenness, and robustness to extinction. Most species were generalists, but large-bodied frugivores prevailed at MF. FE showed a higher vulnerability, mostly to the loss of trees. Trees are key, keeping the structure of both networks. Large-bodied frugivores and fruiting-tree species that work as network connectors should thus be the focus of active conservation management in these forests. Only viable populations of these species will ensure a good performance of the seed dispersal network, promoting the natural regeneration of the ecosystem.
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11
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Porcher V, Carrière SM, Gallois S, Randriambanona H, Rafidison VM, Reyes-García V. Growing up in the Betsileo landscape: Children’s wild edible plants knowledge in Madagascar. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0264147. [PMID: 35176111 PMCID: PMC8853535 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0264147] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2021] [Accepted: 02/03/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Understanding local knowledge about wild edible plants (WEP) is essential for assessing plant services, reducing the risks of knowledge extinction, recognizing the rights of local communities, and improving biodiversity conservation efforts. However, the knowledge of specific groups such as women or children tends to be under-represented in local ecological knowledge (LEK) research. In this study, we explore how knowledge of WEP is distributed across gender and life stages (adults/children) among Betsileo people in the southern highlands of Madagascar. Using data from free listings with 42 adults and 40 children, gender-balanced, we show that knowledge on WEP differs widely across gender and life stage. In addition, we find that children have extended knowledge of WEP while reporting different species than adults. Women’s knowledge specializes in herbaceous species (versus other plant life forms), while men’s knowledge specializes in endemic species (versus native or introduced). Finally, we find that introduced species are more frequently cited by children, while adults cite more endemic species. We discuss the LEK differentiation mechanisms and the implications of acquiring life stage’s knowledge in the highland landscapes of Madagascar. Given our findings, we highlight the importance of considering groups with under-represented knowledge repositories, such as children and women, into future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vincent Porcher
- Institut de Ciència i Tecnologia Ambientals, Universitat Autònoma deBarcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- SENS, IRD, CIRAD, Montpellier, France
- * E-mail:
| | | | - Sandrine Gallois
- Faculty of Archaeology, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | | | | | - Victoria Reyes-García
- Institut de Ciència i Tecnologia Ambientals, Universitat Autònoma deBarcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Institució Catalana de Recerca i Estudis Avanç ats (ICREA), Barcelona, Spain
- Department of Anthropology, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
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12
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Mata VA, da Silva LP, Veríssimo J, Horta P, Raposeira H, McCracken GF, Rebelo H, Beja P. Combining DNA metabarcoding and ecological networks to inform conservation biocontrol by small vertebrate predators. ECOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS : A PUBLICATION OF THE ECOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 2021; 31:e02457. [PMID: 34529299 PMCID: PMC9285058 DOI: 10.1002/eap.2457] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2020] [Revised: 04/22/2021] [Accepted: 05/20/2021] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
In multifunctional landscapes, diverse communities of flying vertebrate predators provide vital services of insect pest control. In such landscapes, conservation biocontrol should benefit service-providing species to enhance the flow, stability and resilience of pest control services supporting the production of food and fiber. However, this would require identifying key service providers, which may be challenging when multiple predators interact with multiple pests. Here we provide a framework to identify the functional role of individual species to pest control in multifunctional landscapes. First, we used DNA metabarcoding to provide detailed data on pest species predation by diverse predator communities. Then, these data were fed into an extensive network analysis, in which information relevant for conservation biocontrol is gained from parameters describing network structure (e.g., modularity) and species roles in such network (e.g., centrality, specialization). We applied our framework to a Mediterranean landscape, where 19 bat species were found to feed on 132 insect pest species. Metabarcoding data revealed potentially important bats that consumed insect pest species in high frequency and/or diversity. Network analysis showed a modular structure, indicating sets of bat species that are required to regulate specific sets of insect pests. A few generalist bats had particularly important roles, either at network or module levels. Extinction simulations highlighted six bats, including species of conservation concern, which were sufficient to ensure that over three-quarters of the pest species had at least one bat predator. Combining DNA metabarcoding and ecological network analysis provides a valuable framework to identify individual species within diverse predator communities that might have a disproportionate contribution to pest control services in multifunctional landscapes. These species can be regarded as candidate targets for conservation biocontrol, although additional information is needed to evaluate their actual effectiveness in pest regulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vanessa A. Mata
- CIBIO, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, InBIO Laboratório AssociadoCampus de Vairão, Universidade of PortoVairão4485‐661Portugal
- BIOPOLIS Program in Genomics, Biodiversity and Land PlanningCIBIO, Campus de VairãoVairão4485‐661Portugal
| | - Luis P. da Silva
- CIBIO, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, InBIO Laboratório AssociadoCampus de Vairão, Universidade of PortoVairão4485‐661Portugal
- BIOPOLIS Program in Genomics, Biodiversity and Land PlanningCIBIO, Campus de VairãoVairão4485‐661Portugal
| | - Joana Veríssimo
- CIBIO, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, InBIO Laboratório AssociadoCampus de Vairão, Universidade of PortoVairão4485‐661Portugal
- BIOPOLIS Program in Genomics, Biodiversity and Land PlanningCIBIO, Campus de VairãoVairão4485‐661Portugal
- Departamento de Biologia, Faculdade de CiênciasUniversidade do PortoPorto4099‐002Portugal
| | - Pedro Horta
- CIBIO, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, InBIO Laboratório AssociadoCampus de Vairão, Universidade of PortoVairão4485‐661Portugal
- BIOPOLIS Program in Genomics, Biodiversity and Land PlanningCIBIO, Campus de VairãoVairão4485‐661Portugal
- Departamento de Biologia, Faculdade de CiênciasUniversidade do PortoPorto4099‐002Portugal
| | - Helena Raposeira
- CIBIO, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, InBIO Laboratório AssociadoCampus de Vairão, Universidade of PortoVairão4485‐661Portugal
- BIOPOLIS Program in Genomics, Biodiversity and Land PlanningCIBIO, Campus de VairãoVairão4485‐661Portugal
- Departamento de Biologia, Faculdade de CiênciasUniversidade do PortoPorto4099‐002Portugal
| | - Gary F. McCracken
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary BiologyUniversity of TennesseeKnoxvilleTennessee37996‐1610USA
| | - Hugo Rebelo
- CIBIO, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, InBIO Laboratório AssociadoCampus de Vairão, Universidade of PortoVairão4485‐661Portugal
- BIOPOLIS Program in Genomics, Biodiversity and Land PlanningCIBIO, Campus de VairãoVairão4485‐661Portugal
- CIBIO, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, InBIO Laboratório AssociadoInstituto Superior de Agronomia, Universidade de LisboaLisboa1349‐017Portugal
| | - Pedro Beja
- CIBIO, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, InBIO Laboratório AssociadoCampus de Vairão, Universidade of PortoVairão4485‐661Portugal
- BIOPOLIS Program in Genomics, Biodiversity and Land PlanningCIBIO, Campus de VairãoVairão4485‐661Portugal
- CIBIO, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, InBIO Laboratório AssociadoInstituto Superior de Agronomia, Universidade de LisboaLisboa1349‐017Portugal
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13
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Mendes SB, Timóteo S, Loureiro J, Castro S. The impact of habitat loss on pollination services for a threatened dune endemic plant. Oecologia 2021; 198:279-293. [PMID: 34775515 DOI: 10.1007/s00442-021-05070-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2020] [Accepted: 10/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Habitat loss is currently a major threat to biodiversity, affecting species interactions, such as plant-pollinator interactions. This is particularly important in self-incompatible plants relying on pollinators to reproduce and sustain their populations. Here, we evaluated how habitat loss affects the pollination system, plant individual-pollinator species interaction network, and plant reproductive fitness of the self-incompatible Jasione maritima var. sabularia, a threatened taxon from dune systems. This plant is a pollinator generalist, visited by 108 species from distinct taxonomic groups. Results suggest that increasing habitat loss led to a significant decline in pollinator richness, increased pollen limitation, and a decrease in reproductive fitness of J. maritima var. sabularia. Visitation rate per individual did not significantly change with available area, indicating that the quality of pollen differed across populations. The topology of the network between J. maritima var. sabularia individuals and its pollinator species did not change, which may be attributed to the stability in the core of pollinator species. This suggests that the lower fitness of plants with increasing habitat degradation may be explained not only by the lower richness of peripheral pollinators but also by the genetic structure of the plant populations, as there is a possible higher transference of less quality pollen by pollinators, ultimately compromising the persistence of plant populations. Our study highlights the need of future studies to integrate the fine details provided by individual-level networks, which will increase our understanding of the pattern of species interactions and its consequences for the fitness of threatened plant populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Beatriz Mendes
- Centre for Functional Ecology, Department of Life Sciences, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Sérgio Timóteo
- Centre for Functional Ecology, Department of Life Sciences, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.
| | - João Loureiro
- Centre for Functional Ecology, Department of Life Sciences, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Sílvia Castro
- Centre for Functional Ecology, Department of Life Sciences, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
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14
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Mertens D, Bouwmeester K, Poelman EH. Intraspecific variation in plant-associated herbivore communities is phylogenetically structured in Brassicaceae. Ecol Lett 2021; 24:2314-2327. [PMID: 34331409 PMCID: PMC9291228 DOI: 10.1111/ele.13852] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2021] [Revised: 04/14/2021] [Accepted: 07/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
As a result of co‐evolution between plants and herbivores, related plants often interact with similar herbivore communities. Variation in plant–herbivore interactions is determined by variation in underlying functional traits and by ecological and stochastic processes. Hence, typically, only a subset of possible interactions is realised on individual plants. We show that insect herbivore communities assembling on individual plants are structured by plant phylogeny among 12 species in two phylogenetic lineages of Brassicaceae. This community sorting to plant phylogeny was retained when splitting the community according to herbivore feeding guilds. Relative abundance of herbivores as well as the size of the community structured community dissimilarity among plant species. Importantly, the amount of intraspecific variation in realised plant–herbivore interactions is also phylogenetically structured. We argue that variability in realised interactions that are not directly structured by plant traits is ecologically relevant and must be considered in the evolution of plant defences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daan Mertens
- Laboratory of Entomology, Wageningen University and Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Klaas Bouwmeester
- Biosystematics Group, Wageningen University and Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Erik H Poelman
- Laboratory of Entomology, Wageningen University and Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands
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15
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Menezes Pinto Í, Emer C, Cazetta E, Morante-Filho JC. Deforestation Simplifies Understory Bird Seed-Dispersal Networks in Human-Modified Landscapes. Front Ecol Evol 2021. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2021.640210] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Global biodiversity is threatened by land-use changes through human activities. This is mainly due to the conversion of continuous forests into forest fragments surrounded by anthropogenic matrices. In general, sensitive species are lost while species adapted to disturbances succeed in altered environments. However, whether the interactions performed by the persisting species are also modified, and how it scales up to the network level throughout the landscape are virtually unknown in most tropical hotspots of biodiversity. Here we evaluated how landscape predictors (forest cover, total core area, edge density, inter-patch isolation) and local characteristics (fruit availability, vegetation complexity) affected understory birds seed-dispersal networks in 19 forest fragments along the hyperdiverse but highly depauperate northeast distribution of the Brazilian Atlantic Forest. Also, our sampled sites were distributed in two regions with contrasting land cover changes. We used mist nets to obtain samples of understory bird food contents to identify the plant species consumed and dispersed by them. We estimated network complexity on the basis of the number of interactions, links per species, interaction evenness, and modularity. Our findings showed that the number of interactions increased with the amount of forest cover, and it was significantly lower in the more deforested region. None of the other evaluated parameters were affected by any other landscape or local predictors. We also observed a lack of significant network structure compared to null models, which we attribute to a pervasive impoverishment of bird and plant communities in these highly modified landscapes. Our results demonstrate the importance of forest cover not only to maintain species diversity but also their respective mutualistic relationships, which are the bases for ecosystem functionality, forest regeneration and the provision of ecological services.
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16
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González‐Castro A, Morán‐López T, Nogales M, Traveset A. Changes in the structure of seed dispersal networks when including interaction outcomes from both plant and animal perspectives. OIKOS 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/oik.08315] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Aarón González‐Castro
- Canary Islands Ornithology and Natural History Group (GOHNIC) Tenerife Canary Islands Spain
- Island Ecology and Evolution Research Group (CSIC‐IPNA) Tenerife Canary Islands Spain
| | - Teresa Morán‐López
- Grupo de ecología cuantitativa, INIBIOMA‐CONICET San Carlos De Bariloche Rio Negro Argentina
| | - Manuel Nogales
- Island Ecology and Evolution Research Group (CSIC‐IPNA) Tenerife Canary Islands Spain
| | - Anna Traveset
- Global Change Research Group, Inst. Mediterrani d'Estudis Avançats (CSIC‐UIB) Mallorca Balearic Islands Spain
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17
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Schlautmann J, Rehling F, Albrecht J, Jaroszewicz B, Schabo DG, Farwig N. Observing frugivores or collecting scats: a method comparison to construct quantitative seed dispersal networks. OIKOS 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/oik.08175] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Jan Schlautmann
- Conservation Ecology, Dept of Biology, Univ. of Marburg Germany
| | - Finn Rehling
- Conservation Ecology, Dept of Biology, Univ. of Marburg Germany
| | - Jörg Albrecht
- Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre (SBiK‐F) Frankfurt/Main Germany
| | - Bogdan Jaroszewicz
- Białowieża Geobotanical Station, Faculty of Biology, Univ. of Warsaw Białowieża Poland
| | - Dana G. Schabo
- Conservation Ecology, Dept of Biology, Univ. of Marburg Germany
| | - Nina Farwig
- Conservation Ecology, Dept of Biology, Univ. of Marburg Germany
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18
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González‐Varo JP, Onrubia A, Pérez‐Méndez N, Tarifa R, Illera JC. Fruit abundance and trait matching determine diet type and body condition across frugivorous bird populations. OIKOS 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/oik.08106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Juan P. González‐Varo
- Depto de Biología, IVAGRO, Univ. de Cádiz, Campus Río San Pedro Puerto Real Cádiz Spain
| | - Alejandro Onrubia
- Migres Foundation, International Bird Migration Center (CIMA) Tarifa Cádiz Spain
| | - Néstor Pérez‐Méndez
- Inst. de Recerca i Tecnologia Agroalimentaries (IRTA), Estació Experimental de l'Ebre Amposta Tarragona Spain
| | - Rubén Tarifa
- Depto de Biología Animal, Vegetal y Ecología, Univ. de Jaén Jaén Spain
| | - Juan C. Illera
- Research Unit of Biodiversity (UO‐CSIC‐PA), Depto de Biología de Organismos y Sistemas, Unidad Mixta de Investigación en Biodiversidad, Univ. de Oviedo, Campus of Mieres Mieres Asturias Spain
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19
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Acevedo-Quintero JF, Saldaña-Vázquez RA, Mendoza E, Zamora-Abrego JG. Sampling bias affects the relationship between structural importance and species body mass in frugivore-plant interaction networks. ECOLOGICAL COMPLEXITY 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ecocom.2020.100870] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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20
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Sebastián‐González E, Lovas‐Kiss Á, Soons MB, Broek B, Green AJ. Waterbird seed‐dispersal networks are similarly nested but less modular than those of frugivorous birds, and not driven by functional traits. Funct Ecol 2020. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2435.13657] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Ádám Lovas‐Kiss
- Wetland Ecology Research Group Department of Tisza River Research MTA Centre for Ecological ResearchDanube Research Institute Debrecen Hungary
| | - Merel B. Soons
- Ecology & Biodiversity Group Department of Biology Utrecht University Utrecht The Netherlands
| | - Bas Broek
- Ecology & Biodiversity Group Department of Biology Utrecht University Utrecht The Netherlands
| | - Andy J. Green
- Department of Wetland Ecology Estación Biológica de DoñanaEBD‐CSIC Sevilla Spain
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21
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Terry JCD, Lewis OT. Finding missing links in interaction networks. Ecology 2020; 101:e03047. [PMID: 32219855 DOI: 10.1002/ecy.3047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2019] [Revised: 02/05/2020] [Accepted: 02/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Documenting which species interact within ecological communities is challenging and labor intensive. As a result, many interactions remain unrecorded, potentially distorting our understanding of network structure and dynamics. We test the utility of four structural models and a new coverage-deficit model for predicting missing links in both simulated and empirical bipartite networks. We find they can perform well, although the predictive power of structural models varies with the underlying network structure. The accuracy of predictions can be improved by ensembling multiple models. Augmenting observed networks with most-likely missing links improves estimates of qualitative network metrics. Tools to identify likely missing links can be simple to implement, allowing the prioritization of research effort and more robust assessment of network properties.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Owen T Lewis
- Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX1 3PS, United Kingdom
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22
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Acosta-Rojas DC, Jiménez-Franco MV, Zapata-Pérez VM, De la Rúa P, Martínez-López V. An integrative approach to discern the seed dispersal role of frugivorous guilds in a Mediterranean semiarid priority habitat. PeerJ 2019; 7:e7609. [PMID: 31620312 PMCID: PMC6792472 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.7609] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2019] [Accepted: 08/05/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Seed dispersal is an essential process to maintain the viability of plant populations, and understanding this ecological process allows management strategies to be developed to conserve ecosystems. European Union priority habitat 5220* is defined as "Mediterranean arborescent shrubland with Ziziphus lotus" and it represents a favorable microclimate within the severe climatic conditions typical of the semiarid south-eastern region of the Iberian Peninsula. Therefore, the study of seed dispersal in this priority habitat by different frugivorous guilds, is a challenge for its conservation. In this study, we have characterized a mutualistic network of seed dispersal that is mediated by vertebrates (mammals and birds) in the protected habitat 5220*. The aims of this study were to: (i) identify the seed disperser community; (ii) analyze the relative role of key species in the dispersal process; and (iii) compare the functional ecology of the seed dispersal process between mammals and birds. As such, we collected animal faeces to determine seed dispersers taxonomy, identifying the mammals through the visual aspect of the faeces and the birds by DNA barcoding. In the case of birds, we also collected regurgitated seeds in which the disperser species was also identified through molecular techniques. This allowed us to build-up a mutualistic network and to identify the relative role of these animals in seed dispersal. Our results showed that mammals and birds fulfilled complementary roles in seed dispersal, with birds representing the main dispersers of key plants within the 5220* habitat, and mammals the main dispersers of human-cultivated plants. Herein, we provide a useful approach with relevant information that can be used to propose management policies that focus on restoring the threatened 5220* habitat, promoting the role of birds to disperse key species that structure plant communities of this priority habitat.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diana Carolina Acosta-Rojas
- Department of Zoology and Physical Anthropology, Faculty of Veterinary, University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain
- Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre (BiK-F), Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - María Victoria Jiménez-Franco
- Ecology Area, Department of Applied Biology, Faculty of Experimental Sciences, University Miguel Hernández, Elche, Spain
- Department of Ecological Modeling, UFZ–Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research, Leipzig, Germany
| | | | - Pilar De la Rúa
- Department of Zoology and Physical Anthropology, Faculty of Veterinary, University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain
| | - Vicente Martínez-López
- Department of Zoology and Physical Anthropology, Faculty of Veterinary, University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain
- Department of Ecology and Hydrology, Faculty of Biology, University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain
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23
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Nnakenyi CA, Traveset A, Heleno R, Minoarivelo HO, Hui C. Fine‐tuning the nested structure of pollination networks by adaptive interaction switching, biogeography and sampling effect in the Galápagos Islands. OIKOS 2019. [DOI: 10.1111/oik.06053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Chinenye A. Nnakenyi
- Centre for Invasion Biology, Dept of Mathematical Sciences, Stellenbosch Univ Matieland 7602 South Africa
| | - Anna Traveset
- Mediterranean Inst. of Advanced Studies (CSIC‐UIB), Global Change Research Group, Esporles, Mallorca Balearic Islands Spain
| | - Ruben Heleno
- Centre for Functional Ecology, Dept of Life Sciences, Univ. of Coimbra Coimbra Portugal
| | - Henintsoa O. Minoarivelo
- Centre for Invasion Biology, Dept of Mathematical Sciences, Stellenbosch Univ Matieland 7602 South Africa
| | - Cang Hui
- Centre for Invasion Biology, Dept of Mathematical Sciences, Stellenbosch Univ Matieland 7602 South Africa
- Mathematical Biosciences Group, African Inst. for Mathematical Sciences Cape Town South Africa
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24
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Henriksen MV, Chapple DG, Chown SL, McGeoch MA. The effect of network size and sampling completeness in depauperate networks. J Anim Ecol 2018; 88:211-222. [PMID: 30291749 DOI: 10.1111/1365-2656.12912] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2018] [Accepted: 10/01/2018] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
The accurate estimation of interaction network structure is essential for understanding network stability and function. A growing number of studies evaluate under-sampling as the degree of sampling completeness (proportional richness observed). How the relationship between network structural metrics and sampling completeness varies across networks of different sizes remains unclear, but this relationship has implications for the within- and between-system comparability of network structure. Here, we test the combined effects of network size and sampling completeness on the structure of spatially distinct networks (i.e., subwebs) in a host-parasitoid model system to better understand the within-system variability in metric bias. Richness estimates were used to quantify a gradient of sampling completeness of species and interactions across randomly subsampled subwebs. The combined impacts of network size and sampling completeness on the estimated values of twelve unweighted and weighted network metrics were tested. The robustness of network metrics to under-sampling was strongly related to network size, and sampling completeness of interactions were generally a better predictor of metric bias than sampling completeness of species. Weighted metrics often performed better than unweighted metrics at low sampling completeness; however, this was mainly evident at large rather than small subweb size. These outcomes highlight the significance of under-sampling for the comparability of both unweighted and weighted network metrics when networks are small and vary in size. This has implications for within-system comparability of species-poor networks and, more generally, reveals problems with under-sampling ecological networks that may otherwise be difficult to detect in species-rich networks. To mitigate the impacts of under-sampling, more careful considerations of system-specific variation in metric bias are needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marie V Henriksen
- School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, Vic., Australia
| | - David G Chapple
- School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, Vic., Australia
| | - Steven L Chown
- School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, Vic., Australia
| | - Melodie A McGeoch
- School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, Vic., Australia
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25
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Timóteo S, O'Connor CJ, López-Núñez FA, Costa JM, Gouveia AC, Heleno RH. Pollination networks from natural and anthropogenic-novel communities show high structural similarity. Oecologia 2018; 188:1155-1165. [PMID: 30361763 DOI: 10.1007/s00442-018-4281-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2018] [Accepted: 09/28/2018] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
The Anthropocene is marked by an unprecedented homogenisation of the world's biota, confronting species that never co-occurred during their evolutionary histories. Interactions established in these novel communities may affect ecosystem functioning; however, most research has focused on the impacts of a minority of aggressive invasive species, while changes inflicted by a less conspicuous majority of non-invasive alien species on community structure are still poorly understood. This information is critical to guide conservation strategies, and instrumental to advance ecological theory, particularly to understand how non-native species integrate in recipient communities and affect the interactions of native species. We evaluated how the structure of 50 published pollination networks changes with the proportion of alien plant species and found that network structure is largely unaffected. Although some communities were heavily invaded, the proportion of alien plant species was relatively low (mean = 10%; max. = 38%). We further characterized the pollination network in a botanic garden with a plant community dominated by non-invasive alien species (85%). We show that the structure of this novel community is also not markedly different from native-dominated communities. Plant-pollinator interactions revealed no obvious differences regarding plant origin (native vs. alien) or the native bioregion of the introduced plants. This overall similarity between native and alien plants is likely driven by the contrasting patterns of invasive plants (promoting generalism), and non-invasive aliens, suggested here to promote specialization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sérgio Timóteo
- Department of Life Sciences, Centre for Functional Ecology (CFE-UC), University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.
| | - Catherine J O'Connor
- Department of Life Sciences, Centre for Functional Ecology (CFE-UC), University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
- Cardiff School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
| | - Francisco A López-Núñez
- Department of Life Sciences, Centre for Functional Ecology (CFE-UC), University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - José M Costa
- Department of Life Sciences, Centre for Functional Ecology (CFE-UC), University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - António C Gouveia
- Department of Life Sciences, Centre for Functional Ecology (CFE-UC), University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
- Botanic Garden of the University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Ruben H Heleno
- Department of Life Sciences, Centre for Functional Ecology (CFE-UC), University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
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26
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García D, Donoso I, Rodríguez‐Pérez J. Frugivore biodiversity and complementarity in interaction networks enhance landscape‐scale seed dispersal function. Funct Ecol 2018. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2435.13213] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Daniel García
- Depto. Biología de Organismos y Sistemas Universidad de Oviedo, and Unidad Mixta de Investigación en Biodiversidad (CSIC‐Uo‐PA) Oviedo Spain
| | - Isabel Donoso
- Depto. Biología de Organismos y Sistemas Universidad de Oviedo, and Unidad Mixta de Investigación en Biodiversidad (CSIC‐Uo‐PA) Oviedo Spain
- Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre Frankfurt (Main) Germany
| | - Javier Rodríguez‐Pérez
- Depto. Biología de Organismos y Sistemas Universidad de Oviedo, and Unidad Mixta de Investigación en Biodiversidad (CSIC‐Uo‐PA) Oviedo Spain
- Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos Universidade de Évora Évora Portugal
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27
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Costa JM, Ramos JA, da Silva LP, Timóteo S, Andrade P, Araújo PM, Carneiro C, Correia E, Cortez P, Felgueiras M, Godinho C, Lopes RJ, Matos C, Norte AC, Pereira PF, Rosa A, Heleno RH. Rewiring of experimentally disturbed seed dispersal networks might lead to unexpected network configurations. Basic Appl Ecol 2018. [DOI: 10.1016/j.baae.2018.05.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
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28
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Biomonitoring for the 21st Century: Integrating Next-Generation Sequencing Into Ecological Network Analysis. ADV ECOL RES 2018. [DOI: 10.1016/bs.aecr.2017.12.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/04/2022]
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29
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Rumeu B, Devoto M, Traveset A, Olesen JM, Vargas P, Nogales M, Heleno R. Predicting the consequences of disperser extinction: richness matters the most when abundance is low. Funct Ecol 2017. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2435.12897] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Beatriz Rumeu
- Centre for Functional Ecology Department of Life Sciences Calçada Martim de Freitas University of Coimbra 3000‐456 Coimbra Portugal
| | - Mariano Devoto
- Facultad de Agronomía Universidad de Buenos Aires Av. San Martín 4453 C1417DSE Buenos Aires Argentina
| | - Anna Traveset
- Mediterranean Institute of Advanced Studies (CSIC‐UIB) Terrestrial Ecology Group C/Miquel Marqués 21 07190‐Esporles Mallorca Balearic Islands Spain
| | - Jens M. Olesen
- Department of Bioscience Aarhus University DK‐8000 Aarhus C Denmark
| | - Pablo Vargas
- Royal Botanical Garden Madrid (CSIC‐RJB) Plaza de Murillo, 2 28014 Madrid Spain
| | - Manuel Nogales
- Island Ecology and Evolution Research Group (CSIC‐IPNA) 38206 La Laguna Tenerife Canary Islands Spain
| | - Ruben Heleno
- Centre for Functional Ecology Department of Life Sciences Calçada Martim de Freitas University of Coimbra 3000‐456 Coimbra Portugal
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30
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Correia M, Timóteo S, Rodríguez-Echeverría S, Mazars-Simon A, Heleno R. Refaunation and the reinstatement of the seed-dispersal function in Gorongosa National Park. CONSERVATION BIOLOGY : THE JOURNAL OF THE SOCIETY FOR CONSERVATION BIOLOGY 2017; 31:76-85. [PMID: 27355794 DOI: 10.1111/cobi.12782] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2016] [Revised: 06/13/2016] [Accepted: 06/17/2016] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
Large animals are important seed dispersers; however, they tend to be under a high extinction risk worldwide. There is compelling evidence that the global biodiversity crisis is leading to the deterioration of several ecosystem functions, but there is virtually no information on how large-scale refaunation efforts can reinstate seed dispersal. We evaluated the effectiveness of a 62-km2 wildlife sanctuary, which was established to recover populations of large mammals in Gorongosa National Park (Mozambique), in restoring seed dispersal. We collected animal scats during the dry season of 2014 (June-August) along 5 transects inside and 5 transects outside the sanctuary fence (50 km total) with the same type of plant community, identified animal and plant species in the transects, and quantified the number of seeds in each scat. Based on these data, we built bipartite networks and calculated network and species-level descriptor values, and we compared data collected inside and outside the sanctuary. There were more scats (268 vs. 207) and more scats containing seeds (132 vs. 94) inside than outside the sanctuary. The number of mammal dispersers was also higher inside (17) than outside the sanctuary (11). Similarly, more seeds (2413 vs. 2124) and plant species (33 vs. 26) were dispersed inside than outside the sanctuary. Overall, the seed-dispersal network was less specialized (0.38 vs. 0.44) and there was a greater overlap (0.16 vs. 0.07) inside than outside the sanctuary. Both networks were significantly modular and antinested. The high number and richness of seeds dispersed inside the sanctuary was explained mostly by a higher abundance of dispersers rather than by disperser identity. Our results suggest conservation efforts aimed at recovering populations of large mammals are helping to reestablish not only target mammal species but also their functional roles as seed dispersers in the ecosystem.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta Correia
- Centre for Functional Ecology, Department of Life Sciences, University of Coimbra, Calçada Martim de Freitas, 3000-456, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Sérgio Timóteo
- Centre for Functional Ecology, Department of Life Sciences, University of Coimbra, Calçada Martim de Freitas, 3000-456, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Susana Rodríguez-Echeverría
- Centre for Functional Ecology, Department of Life Sciences, University of Coimbra, Calçada Martim de Freitas, 3000-456, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Alban Mazars-Simon
- Centre for Functional Ecology, Department of Life Sciences, University of Coimbra, Calçada Martim de Freitas, 3000-456, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Ruben Heleno
- Centre for Functional Ecology, Department of Life Sciences, University of Coimbra, Calçada Martim de Freitas, 3000-456, Coimbra, Portugal
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Gonzalez O, Loiselle BA. Species interactions in an Andean bird-flowering plant network: phenology is more important than abundance or morphology. PeerJ 2016; 4:e2789. [PMID: 27994982 PMCID: PMC5157195 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.2789] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2016] [Accepted: 11/12/2016] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Biological constraints and neutral processes have been proposed to explain the properties of plant–pollinator networks. Using interactions between nectarivorous birds (hummingbirds and flowerpiercers) and flowering plants in high elevation forests (i.e., “elfin” forests) of the Andes, we explore the importance of biological constraints and neutral processes (random interactions) to explain the observed species interactions and network metrics, such as connectance, specialization, nestedness and asymmetry. In cold environments of elfin forests, which are located at the top of the tropical montane forest zone, many plants are adapted for pollination by birds, making this an ideal system to study plant–pollinator networks. To build the network of interactions between birds and plants, we used direct field observations. We measured abundance of birds using mist-nets and flower abundance using transects, and phenology by scoring presence of birds and flowers over time. We compared the length of birds’ bills to flower length to identify “forbidden interactions”—those interactions that could not result in legitimate floral visits based on mis-match in morphology. Diglossa flowerpiercers, which are characterized as “illegitimate” flower visitors, were relatively abundant. We found that the elfin forest network was nested with phenology being the factor that best explained interaction frequencies and nestedness, providing support for biological constraints hypothesis. We did not find morphological constraints to be important in explaining observed interaction frequencies and network metrics. Other network metrics (connectance, evenness and asymmetry), however, were better predicted by abundance (neutral process) models. Flowerpiercers, which cut holes and access flowers at their base and, consequently, facilitate nectar access for other hummingbirds, explain why morphological mis-matches were relatively unimportant in this system. Future work should focus on how changes in abundance and phenology, likely results of climate change and habitat fragmentation, and the role of nectar robbers impact ecological and evolutionary dynamics of plant–pollinator (or flower-visitor) interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oscar Gonzalez
- Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States of America; Grupo Aves del Peru, Lima, Peru; Department of Natural Sciences, Emmanuel College, Franklin Springs, GA, United States of America
| | - Bette A Loiselle
- Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States of America; Center for Latin American Studies, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States of America
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The Labile Limits of Forbidden Interactions. Trends Ecol Evol 2016; 31:700-710. [DOI: 10.1016/j.tree.2016.06.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2016] [Revised: 06/23/2016] [Accepted: 06/26/2016] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
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