Comparing bird-plant interaction networks between xerophytic and humid forests of the southeastern Neotropics

Ornithology Research, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 33(1)

Published: March 14, 2025

Language: Английский

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Frugivory and seed dispersal in the Cerrado: Network structure and defaunation effects

Biotropica, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 55(4), P. 849 - 865

Published: May 31, 2023

Abstract Seed dispersal is a fundamental process that highly threatened by the rapid decline of large‐bodied frugivores worldwide. The Brazilian Cerrado, largest savanna in world, represents an ideal site for investigating seed because its biodiversity, environmental challenges, and knowledge shortfalls. We performed systematic literature review to analyze network Cerrado potential impacts defaunation on it. considered metrics, calculated index frugivore assemblage, compared traits among different fruit‐sized plants their respective dispersers network. retrieved 1565 interactions involving 193 plant species 270 animal species. Results show slightly nested considerably modular, dominated small‐ medium‐sized generalist species, such as passerines, marsupials, mesocarnivores. Nonetheless, like lowland tapir have key role due great foraging integration capacity. assemblage moderately defaunated, with possible effects large‐fruited plants. Cerrado's functional loss large vertebrates deserve urgent attention further understand mechanisms ecosystem functioning.

Language: Английский

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Structure of Epiphyte–Phorophyte Networks and Their Robustness to Species Loss in White‐Sand Ecosystems in the Amazon

Biotropica, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 57(2)

Published: Jan. 31, 2025

ABSTRACT The Amazon is the world's largest tropical forest, has a great diversity of species, and provides essential ecosystem services. However, anthropic exploratory processes have intensified are seriously influencing this biome. Approaches that based on ecological network theory an excellent tool for describing structure communities, interactions between stability ecosystems. Using specific set metrics; first epiphyte–phorophyte commensal fragile white‐sand ecosystems central was created. organization were analyzed described; we also tested system to simulate species loss. A total 725 52 phorophyte 118 vascular epiphytes recorded in (WSE). exhibited nested structure, with low degree specialization ( H 2 ′), connectance, modularity, robustness. When elimination highly connected phorophytes simulated, secondary extinctions high, which indicates when disturbances occur. generalist Aldina heterophylla particularly important, interacting 89.0% hosting 75.0% epiphytes. Our results indicate richness abundance WSEs concentrated few especially large trees. As such, removing from can disrupt interactions, change network's unbalance entire ecosystem.

Language: Английский

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The interplay between spatiotemporal overlap and morphology as determinants of microstructure suggests no ‘perfect fit’ in a bat-flower network

Scientific Reports, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 13(1)

Published: Feb. 15, 2023

Plant-pollinator interactions in diverse tropical communities are often predicted by a combination of ecological variables, yet the interaction drivers between flower-visiting bats and plants at community level poorly understood. We assembled network Neotropical flowering to describe its macrostructure test role neutral niche variables predicting microstructure. found moderately generalized with internally nested modules comprising functionally similar plant bat species. Modules grouped matching degrees specialization but had considerable overlap species morphologies several inter-module interactions. The spatiotemporal species, closely followed morphology, not abundance, were best predictors microstructure, functional groups also interacting more frequently certain vegetation types (e.g., frugivores within forests) seasons long-snouted nectarivores dry season). Therefore, appear have species-specific spaces delimited only their ability exploit flower preferred foraging habitats timing resource availability. prominent dissimilarity across likely reflects heterogeneity savannas, further research biomes beyond Cerrado is needed better understand complexity this system.

Language: Английский

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Mutualistic interaction network structure between bird and plant species in a semi-arid Neotropical environment

Acta Oecologica, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 118, P. 103897 - 103897

Published: Feb. 11, 2023

Language: Английский

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Exploring interactions between parasites and their hosts in the Pantanal floodplain using an ecological network approach

Parasitology Research, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 123(2)

Published: Feb. 1, 2024

Language: Английский

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Seeding success: Integrating seed dispersal networks in tropical forest restoration

Biotropica, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: June 12, 2024

Abstract While the reassembly of fruit‐frugivore interactions remains at forefront tropical forest restoration, seed dispersal networks emerge as a potential approach to enhance restoration success. This review explores integration in with aims (1) synthesizing important findings literature, (2) detailing biases utilizing network theory, and (3) addressing current knowledge gaps future directions for field. We first highlight importance combining phytocentric zoocentric approaches when sampling interactions, different methodologies have varying effects on measures, can foster more comprehensive understanding interactions. Furthermore, integrating into goals, we suggest highly connected species‐rich is desirable earlier stages succession where community turnover transient are pivotal. Nested patterns may throughout succession, identifying generalist species that make up nested be useful practitioners both early later regeneration. Modularity should highest maintain structure stability, connector play roles facilitating across temporal scales. Finally, emphasize site‐specific long‐term datasets, chronosequences, studies large spatial scales continue understand function develop effective strategies recovery ecosystems.

Language: Английский

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Frugivory and seed dispersal in tropical urban areas: a review

Published: March 6, 2023

The diversity of fruits and frugivorous species is especially high in tropical regions where frugivory seed dispersal interactions are particularly critical for the structure functioning terrestrial communities. However, increasing urbanization areas has caused profound landscape changes, affecting associated ecosystems functions. Here, we present an overview studies on urban areas, discussing emergent patterns processes underlying plant-frugivore as well major research gaps. Our review highlights uneven geographical distribution studies, which more frequent Neotropics comparison to Indomalayan Afrotropical regions. We found that areas: (i) most frequently studied group flying frugivores (birds bats), (ii) Myrtaceae, Moraceae, Arecaceae reported consumed by frugivores, (iii) introduced plants often frugivores’ diets, become common with urbanization, (iv) niche breadths vary seasonality fruit availability, (v) a higher (or near) habitats preserve natural characteristics, such proportion green areas. Since suitable within cities highly variable size, shape, connectivity, human activity, vegetation management socioeconomic contexts, recommend future sample gradients variables. Furthermore, new planned advance, ‘before-after impact’ may be insightful understand how respond create frugivore-friendly without promoting undesirable (invasive) plants. Although scarcity their bias limit generalizations across distinct regions, based our provide preliminary list broad recommendations practices towards creating biodiversity-friendly

Language: Английский

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Abundance determines core–periphery roles of birds in a Neotropical seed dispersal network

Ibis, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 164(4), P. 1132 - 1144

Published: May 17, 2022

Frugivorous birds assume different roles in the organization of seed dispersal networks depending on how they interact with plants. Identifying most important structural can shed light systems function. Here, we characterized network a megadiverse Neotropical bird community from Brazil and quantitatively scored according to their importance network. We tested applicability recent core–periphery framework based stochastic block models contrasted it other metrics commonly used ecological define structurally species. Then, also evaluated main attributes (body mass, degree frugivory abundance) associated role frugivorous In field recorded 1132 mutualistic interactions between 44 species 41 plant identified Silver‐beaked Tanager Ramphocelus carbo , Band‐tailed Manakin Pipra fasciicauda Red‐legged Honeycreeper Cyanerpes cyaneus as seed‐dispersers. Our study highlighted utility method identifying relevant context networks, which gave slightly results approaches. Specifically, assessment more relevant, including large frugivore Bare‐faced Curassow Crax fasciolata . Finally, discovered that abundance was predictor species' role. conclude abundant generalist are key components maintenance ecosystem function studied ecosystem.

Language: Английский

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Increasing efficiency and reducing bias in the sampling of seed–dispersal interactions based on mist‐netted birds

Oikos, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 2023(2)

Published: Sept. 27, 2022

Efficient and unbiased sampling of ecological interactions is essential to our understanding the functions they mediate. Seed dispersal by frugivorous birds a key mutualism for plant regeneration community dynamics. Mist‐netting one most widely used methods sample avian seed through identification seeds in droppings captured kept inside cloth bags. However, may drop on ground before being extracted from net, leading fraction missing information due ineffective sampling. Worryingly, this could be unevenly distributed across bird species, biases. Here, we assess effectiveness using 1‐m wide mesh below mist nets dropped entangled birds. We data mist‐netted during one‐year‐round. sampled nearly 50% interaction events 75% dispersed band (i.e. lost without optimization). The proportion bands was not evenly among species but strongly related size, ranging 57–63% warblers 84–94% thrushes. Moreover, negatively although relationship weaker. also evaluated accumulation curves pairwise with increasing effort, both bands. number increased 21% when 36%. Our findings provide strong evidence how inefficient biased traditional mist‐netting can community‐wide seed–dispersal interactions. thus urge use future studies increase avoid biases, which will ultimately improve function.

Language: Английский

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