Ecological mechanisms explaining interactions within plant-hummingbird networks: morphological matching increases towards lower latitudes.

Proceedings. Biological Sciences
Jesper SonneBo Dalsgaard

Abstract

Interactions between species are influenced by different ecological mechanisms, such as morphological matching, phenological overlap and species abundances. How these mechanisms explain interaction frequencies across environmental gradients remains poorly understood. Consequently, we also know little about the mechanisms that drive the geographical patterns in network structure, such as complementary specialization and modularity. Here, we use data on morphologies, phenologies and abundances to explain interaction frequencies between hummingbirds and plants at a large geographical scale. For 24 quantitative networks sampled throughout the Americas, we found that the tendency of species to interact with morphologically matching partners contributed to specialized and modular network structures. Morphological matching best explained interaction frequencies in networks found closer to the equator and in areas with low-temperature seasonality. When comparing the three ecological mechanisms within networks, we found that both morphological matching and phenological overlap generally outperformed abundances in the explanation of interaction frequencies. Together, these findings provide insights into the ecological mechanisms that und...Continue Reading

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Citations

Sep 1, 2020·PLoS Biology·Benno I SimmonsVasilis Dakos
Aug 11, 2020·Oecologia·Edgar Chávez-GonzálezRaúl Ortiz-Pulido
Jan 13, 2021·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·Jeferson Vizentin-BugoniCorey E Tarwater
Jul 5, 2021·Ecology Letters·François DuchenneElisa Thébault

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