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(Reference retrieved automatically from Web of Science through information on FAPESP grant and its corresponding number as mentioned in the publication by the authors.)

Untangling the Tangled Bank: A Novel Method for Partitioning the Effects of Phylogenies and Traits on Ecological Networks

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Author(s):
Bastazini, Vinicius A. G. ; Ferreira, Pedro M. A. ; Azambuja, Bethania O. ; Casas, Grasiela ; Debastiani, Vanderlei J. ; Guimaraes, Jr., Paulo R. ; Pillar, Valerio D.
Total Authors: 7
Document type: Journal article
Source: Evolutionary Biology; v. 44, n. 3, p. 312-324, SEP 2017.
Web of Science Citations: 8
Abstract

Understanding how evolutionary and ecological processes shape species interaction networks remains as one of the main challenges in eco-evolutionary studies. Here, we present an integrative analytical framework to partition the effects of phylogenies and functional traits on the structure of ecological networks. The method combines fuzzy set theory and matrix correlation, implemented under a Monte Carlo framework. We designed a simulation study in order to estimate the accuracy of the methods proposed here, measuring Type I Error rates. The simulation study shows that the method is accurate, i.e., incorrectly rejecting a true null hypothesis in similar to 5% of the cases and falling within the confidence interval. We illustrate our framework using data from a seed dispersal network from southern Brazil. Our analyses suggest that birds must have specific traits in order to consume their plant resources, and that phylogenetic resemblance has no explanatory power for species traits and species interactions in this seed-dispersal network. (AU)

FAPESP's process: 09/54422-8 - Structure and coevolutionary dynamics in mutualistic networks
Grantee:Paulo Roberto Guimarães Junior
Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Young Investigators Grants