Relative importance of phenotypic trait matching and species' abundances in determining plant-avian seed dispersal interactions in a small insular community

AoB Plants
Aarón González-CastroTomás A Carlo

Abstract

Network theory has provided a general way to understand mutualistic plant-animal interactions at the community level. However, the mechanisms responsible for interaction patterns remain controversial. In this study we use a combination of statistical models and probability matrices to evaluate the relative importance of species morphological and nutritional (phenotypic) traits and species abundance in determining interactions between fleshy-fruited plants and birds that disperse their seeds. The models included variables associated with species abundance, a suite of variables associated with phenotypic traits (fruit diameter, bird bill width, fruit nutrient compounds), and the species identity of the avian disperser. Results show that both phenotypic traits and species abundance are important determinants of pairwise interactions. However, when considered separately, fruit diameter and bill width were more important in determining seed dispersal interactions. The effect of fruit compounds was less substantial and only important when considered together with abundance-related variables and/or the factor 'animal species'.

References

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Citations

Oct 18, 2015·The Journal of Animal Ecology·Jeferson Vizentin-BugoniMarlies Sazima
Apr 18, 2017·The Journal of Animal Ecology·Esther Sebastián-González
Jun 5, 2020·The Journal of Animal Ecology·Guadalupe PeraltaJason M Tylianakis
Jan 7, 2019·Oecologia·Tiago Machado-de-SouzaIsabela Galarda Varassin
May 8, 2019·The Journal of Animal Ecology·Rohit NaniwadekarHari Sridhar
Jan 13, 2021·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·Jeferson Vizentin-BugoniCorey E Tarwater

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