Analysis of a hyper-diverse seed dispersal network: modularity and underlying mechanisms

Autor(es)

Donatti, Camila I. ^[1] ; Guimaraes, Paulo R. ^[2] ; Galetti, Mauro ^[3] ; Pizo, Marco Aurellio ^[4] ; Marquitti, Flavia M. D. ^{[2, 5]} ; Dirzo, Rodolfo ^[1]

Afiliação do(s) autor(es)

^[1] Stanford Univ, Dept Biol, Stanford, CA 94305 - USA

^[2] Univ Sao Paulo, Dept Ecol, BR-05508900 Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[3] Univ Estadual Paulista, Dept Ecol, Rio Claro, SP - Brazil

^[4] Univ Estadual Paulista, Dept Zool, Rio Claro, SP - Brazil

^[5] Univ Estadual Campinas, Dept Ecol, BR-13083970 Campinas, SP - Brazil

• Tipo de documento: Artigo Científico
• Fonte: ECOLOGY LETTERS; v. 14, n. 8, p. 773-781, AUG 2011.
• Citações Web of Science: 111

Resumo

Mutualistic interactions involving pollination and ant-plant mutualistic networks typically feature tightly linked species grouped in modules. However, such modularity is infrequent in seed dispersal networks, presumably because research on those networks predominantly includes a single taxonomic animal group (e.g. birds). Herein, for the first time, we examine the pattern of interaction in a network that includes multiple taxonomic groups of seed dispersers, and the mechanisms underlying modularity. We found that the network was nested and modular, with five distinguishable modules. Our examination of the mechanisms underlying such modularity showed that plant and animal trait values were associated with specific modules but phylogenetic effect was limited. Thus, the pattern of interaction in this network is only partially explained by shared evolutionary history. We conclude that the observed modularity emerged by a combination of phylogenetic history and trait convergence of phylogenetically unrelated species, shaped by interactions with particular types of dispersal agents. (AU)

• Processo FAPESP: 08/10154-7 - Atributos das plantas na rede de dispersão de sementes do Pantanal: consequências espaciais, demográficas e conservacionistas
• Beneficiário: Mauro Galetti Rodrigues
• Modalidade de apoio: Auxílio à Pesquisa - Regular
• Processo FAPESP: 04/00810-3 - Padrões de fenologia, frugivoria e morfologia de frutos no Pantanal
• Beneficiário: Mauro Galetti Rodrigues
• Modalidade de apoio: Auxílio à Pesquisa - Regular