Covariation among reproductive traits in flowering plants shapes their interactions with pollinators

Functional Ecology, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 37(7), P. 2072 - 2084

Published: April 23, 2023

Abstract Globally, plants display enormous variation in life‐history strategies and trait combinations. However, evidence suggests that evolutionary physiological constraints limit the number of plant ecological strategies. Although there have been recent advances understanding correlations among traits, reproductive traits are rarely considered, despite their key role shaping interactions with pollinators. Here, using a global dataset 18 for 1506 species, we investigate spectrum flowering to identify how it shapes We show over 50% all is explained by first two axes, which represent negative correlation between flower size, autonomous selfing floral size. In addition, these axes were associated identity visits distinct pollinator guilds. explain relatively small amount variance highlighting need incorporate other factors along fully large‐scale patterns plant–pollinator interactions. Our study identifies major at macro‐ecological scale. These findings emphasise importance considering form function, explore beyond morphological broaden our Read free Plain Language Summary this article on Journal blog.

Language: Английский

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Downscaling mutualistic networks from species to individuals reveals consistent interaction niches and roles within plant populations

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 122(7)

Published: Feb. 12, 2025

Species-level networks emerge as the combination of interactions spanning multiple individuals, and their study has received considerable attention over past 30 y. However, less is known about structure interaction configurations within species, even though individuals are actual interacting units in nature. We compiled 46 empirical, individual-based, on plant-animal seed dispersal mutualisms, comprising 1,037 plant across 29 species from various regions. compared individual-based to that species-based and, by extending niche concept assemblages, we explored individual specialization. Using a Bayesian framework account for uncertainty derived sampling, examined how “explore” populations. Both exhibited high variability network properties, lacking remarkable structural topological differences between them. Within populations, frugivores’ allocation among was highly heterogeneous, with one three frugivore dominating interactions. Regardless or bioregion, displayed variety profiles consistently-small percentage playing central role exhibiting diversity assemblage. Plant populations showed variable mid low levels specialization; individuals’ “breadth” accounted 70% population diversity, average. Our results highlight downscaling helps understanding structuring ecological communities provide an empirical basis extension theory complex mutualistic networks.

Language: Английский

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Using individual‐based trait frequency distributions to forecast plant‐pollinator network responses to environmental change

Ecology Letters, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 27(1)

Published: Jan. 1, 2024

Abstract Determining how and why organisms interact is fundamental to understanding ecosystem responses future environmental change. To assess the impact on plant‐pollinator interactions, recent studies have examined effects of change individual interactions accumulate generate species‐level responses. Here, we review developments in using networks interacting individuals along with their functional traits, where are nested within species nodes. We highlight these individual‐level, trait‐based connect intraspecific trait variation (as frequency distributions multiple traits) dynamic communities. This approach can better explain interaction plasticity, changes probabilities network structure over spatiotemporal or other gradients. argue that only through appreciating such plasticity accurately forecast potential vulnerability follow this general guidance collect analyse high‐resolution data, hope improving predictions for targeted effective conservation.

Language: Английский

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Temporal variation in floral scent emission of a woody plant and flower visiting behaviour of male and female flies

Oikos, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: Jan. 8, 2025

Most flowering plants rely on insects for pollination and flowers are advertised using odor visual cues. Flower scent consists of a complex blend volatile compounds which the emission can vary over time (and space) within species. Pollinator foraging behaviour, such as choice spent gathering nectar and/or pollen, also show significant intraspecific variation. Underlying variation in pollinator behaviour be sensory or foraging‐related biases among sexes individuals. Investigating role temporal floral volatiles visitation male female pollinators is largely unexplored. We examined yellowhorn Xanthoceras sorbifolium flowers, its main pollinators, Bibio rufiventris flies, their responses to field experiments controlled bioassays. Our results daily fluctuations X. field. The relative 1‐octen‐3‐ol, 1‐octanol, benzaldehyde, α‐farnesene increased from 9:00 15:00 h, while ( Z )‐3‐hexen‐1‐ol, E )‐2‐hexen‐1‐ol, )‐2‐hexenal, 2‐methyl‐6‐hepten‐1‐ol, (E)‐2‐nonenal, 2,6,6‐trimethyl‐2‐cyclohexene‐1‐methanol, )‐2‐nonenal E,Z )‐2,6‐nonadienal decreased. In concert, we observed an increase visits duration but decrease duration. Pollinators exhibited sex‐specific volatiles, with attraction 1‐octen‐3‐ol 1‐octanol B. males, )‐2‐nonenal, )‐2‐hexenal attracted females. study shows that may explain differences flower by through volatiles. sex‐based will help understand dynamic nature plant–pollinator interactions.

Language: Английский

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Special Feature: Intraspecific variation in ecology & evolution

Journal of Animal Ecology, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 94(3), P. 262 - 267

Published: March 1, 2025

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Unraveling how keystone niche individuals contribute disproportionately to the population niche

Oikos, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: April 18, 2025

Individual diet specialization is prevalent in wild populations and scales up to drive ecological processes at the population community levels. As trophic niche emerges from combination of foraging decisions made by individuals, specific individuals with particular niches can disproportionately contribute their population, i.e. keystone individuals. We investigated whether South American fur seals sea lions differ contribution width populations. To quantify variation within between over long time frames, we analyzed stable isotopes (δ 13 C δ 15 N) serially sampled whiskers (18 O. flavescens 20 A. australis females; average 33 measures per individual). used these repeated observations individual model population‐level isotopic bivariate space accounting for within‐individual variation. Then, estimated width, position orientation each population. Finally, quantified relative its estimating how changes when a given removed While most conspecifics make negligible contributions, few width. Individuals located close centroid promote contraction niche, while far expansion. Further, wide divergent compared tend expand Our findings reveal intraspecific shape inside out, highlighting that substantially patterns higher levels biological organization.

Language: Английский

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Unfeasible expectations: why simple predictors outperform structural stability measures for understanding community assembly

bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory), Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: April 28, 2025

Abstract Understanding what determines community assembly and disassembly in a changing environment is core challenge for ecology. Recently family of structural stability approaches that determine the range intrinsic growth rates compatible with system feasibility have been gaining popularity as measure how likely able to persist fluctuating conditions. This offers theoretical basis understanding predicting complex multi-species communities from only interaction network structures. However, here I show high sensitivity calculations domain, coupled empirical uncertainties inherent estimated interactions, are preclude approach’s reliable application settings. Across four reanalyses previous demonstrations approach, more parsimonious explanations based on species connectance provide better patterns or dynamic stability. Calculation metrics therefore appears lose, rather than synthesise, information embedded matrices. success simpler measures good news purposes prediction emphasises value multiple-competing hypotheses validation tests demonstrate value-added associated new approaches.

Language: Английский

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Environmental Effects on Bee Microbiota

Microbial Ecology, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 86(3), P. 1487 - 1498

Published: April 26, 2023

Language: Английский

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Flowering synchrony modulates pollinator sharing and places plant individuals along a competition–facilitation continuum

Oikos, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 2024(6)

Published: Feb. 27, 2024

Indirect interactions among species within ecological communities govern and evolutionary processes as much as, or even more, than direct effects. In insect‐pollinated plant communities, indirect between plants can be mediated by shared pollinators, may influence fitness, population growth community structure. As individuals are the entities actually interacting in nature, rather species, downscaling a hierarchical level (i.e. from to individuals) is essential understand underlying promoting these interactions. We combined empirical data on plant–pollinator collected Mediterranean shrublands with novel modelling framework assess how patterns of heterospecific conspecific pollinator sharing generated their fitness implications. found that effects flowering synchrony outperformed those spatial distance. Our results revealed more pollinators conspecifics were also involved higher heterospecifics. For most produced positive mean outcomes, long did not share many interactions, which had negative fitness. At individuals, we specific combinations lead distinct reproductive outcomes placed each individual along competition–facilitation continuum. Interestingly, included proportion likely experiencing competition compared potentially facilitation processes. contribution provides insights into factors responsible for local‐scale individual‐level functional consequences. Such intricate have far‐reaching implications, transitions competitive facilitative mutualists contribute significantly functioning coexistence communities.

Language: Английский

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Stability, resilience and eco‐evolutionary feedbacks of mutualistic networks to rising temperature

Journal of Animal Ecology, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 93(8), P. 989 - 1002

Published: June 10, 2024

Abstract Ecological networks comprising of mutualistic interactions can suddenly transition to undesirable states, such as collapse, due small changes in environmental conditions a rise local temperature. However, little is known about the capacity interaction adapt temperature and occurrence critical transitions. Here, combining quantitative genetics dynamics an eco‐evolutionary framework, we evaluated stability resilience transitions increases. Specifically, modelled optimum trait that determined tolerance species well interaction. We then impact individual variation evolutionary on feasible equilibria, threshold temperatures at which community collapses, abruptness collapses. found network architecture, size arrangement interactions, interacted with onset Some had more track than others thereby increased collapsed. result was modulated by amount heritable exhibited, high mean phenotypic increasing Furthermore, not only collapsed but also equilibria. Our study argued architecture interacts increases delayed

Language: Английский

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