Limited effects of fire disturbances on the species diversity and structure of ant-plant interaction networks in Brazilian Cerrado

Fagundes, Roberth; Lange, Denise; Anjos, Diego V.; Lima, Filipe Paixão de; Nahas, Larissa; Corro, Erick J.; Silva, Pricila Bonifácio Gomes; Del‐Claro, Kleber; Ribeiro, Sérvio Pontes; Dáttilo, Wesley

doi:10.1016/j.actao.2018.11.001

Cited by 18 publications

(16 citation statements)

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“…The Complex Networks Theory has been an important tool for understanding how anthropogenic disturbances affect not only species diversity but also their trophic interactions (López-Carretero et al 2014;Falcão et al 2015;Fagundes et al 2018;Alves-Silva et al 2020). However, this approach has focused mainly on community-level interactions (i.e.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Similar topologies of individual‐based plant‐herbivorous networks in forest interior and anthropogenic edges

et al. 2021

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Understanding the impacts of edge effects on ecological interactions plays an integral role in planning ecosystem recovery from human perturbations, as well as conservation of habitats. Edge effects related to forest fragmentation cause changes in species diversity that can disrupt ecological networks. Here, we evaluated how the diversity of, and interactions between, herbivorous insects associated with individuals of a pioneer plant species, Mabea fistulifera (Euphorbiaceae) are affected by the disturbances related to edge effects. We addressed two specific questions: (i) How do the forest edges affect species richness, abundance and composition of herbivorous interacting with M. fistulifera? (ii) Do different disturbances related to edge effects affect the topology of individual-based plant-herbivorous networks? Herbivorous insects were sampled from three population patches of M. fistulifera in Brazilian Atlantic forest areas: two areas were subjected to distinct intensities of anthropogenic disturbances (firebreak and park access road, considered edges of low-and high-impact, respectively), and one in the forest interior (control). We expected a lower species richness and abundance of herbivorous interacting with plants in forest edges than in the forest interior apart from to differences in the species composition. Therefore, based on these predictions, we expected that the various disturbances related to edge effects may change the topology of individual-based plant-herbivorous networks. We observed that species richness and abundance of herbivorous in high-impact environments decreased in relation to forest interior, as well the species composition differed between these areas. Disturbance jeopardised network specialisation but did not change the topology of individual-based networks, which presented a modular pattern. Edges affected herbivorous diversity and decreased the interaction overlap as individual-based networks became highly specialised with increasing disturbance. These results enhance the understanding of edge effects and resilience of plant-herbivorous interactions in regularly disturbed tropical environments.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Similar topologies of individual‐based plant‐herbivorous networks in forest interior and anthropogenic edges

et al. 2021

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“…Other studies have also detected the structural stability of these ant-plant networks mediated by EFNs over time (i.e., 20 years) (Díaz-Castelazo et al, 2013), between day and night periods (Dáttilo et al, 2014a), and after tropical hurricanes (Sánchez-Galván et al, 2012). More recently, Fagundes et al (2018) also observed the limited effects of fire disturbances on the structure of ant-plant interaction networks mediated by EFNs. Corro et al (2019) observed landscape effects on network specialization and on the diversity of interaction of ant-plant networks, but in this case, the authors used a conceptual framework based on cooccurrence records of ant-plant associations to build ant-plant co-occurrence networks.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 95%

Structural Stability of Ant-plant Mutualistic Networks Mediated by Extrafloral Nectaries: Looking at the Effects of Forest Fragmentation in the Brazilian Amazon

et al. 2022

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Rainforest fragmentation drastically affects biodiversity and species composition, mainly due to habitat loss. Several studies have already shown the effects of forest fragmentation on plant and ant communities. To date, however, there is limited empirical knowledge of how forest fragmentation affects ant-plant interaction in networks. We investigated the effects of the configuration of rainforest fragments on the structure of ant-plant interaction networks mediated by extrafloral nectaries (EFNs). We carried out this study in ten forest fragments, ranging in size from approximately 5 to 3,000 ha, located in the Brazilian Amazon. In each fragment we established a plot of 6,250 m2, in which all ant-plant interactions were recorded, and calculated the following network descriptors: number of interactions, network size, network specialization, diversity of interactions, and nestedness. We used four explanatory variables to investigate the effects of forest fragmentation on these network descriptors: three metrics of the configuration of fragments (i.e., fragment area, edge irregularity, and connectivity) and the forest structure within each fragment, represented by canopy cover. We did not detect any effect of the explanatory variables on the network descriptors. The structural stability of the networks sampled in forest fragments with different configurations is possibly related to the observed constancy of ant species in the central core of highly interacting species. Our results corroborate other studies highlighting the structural stability of these facultative ant-plant networks mediated by EFNs in different spatial and temporal gradients. Nonetheless, the low constancy of plant species in the generalist core should be understood as a warning, mainly because the functionality of this protective mutualism (i.e., food secretions in exchange for protection against herbivory) remains unknown.

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“…The vegetation has been proved to have an important role in the recovery and restoration of communities, especially herbaceous cover and their biomass (ARAÚJO; RIBEIRO, 2005;FRIZZO et al, 2012;CANEDO-JÚNIOR et al, 2016). After a fire, some species can be resilient and resistant and their diversity is quickly restored (COSTA et al, 2010), and others can be susceptive, and be replaced by others, which is called turnover of species (FAGUNDES et al, 2018). This may happen because different groups of ants may show different responses to fire, depending, for instance, if their nest is vulnerable or not to the direct effect of fire (HOFFMANN, 2013;FRIZZO et al, 2012;MARAVALHAS;VASCONCELOS, 2014).…”

Section: The Effect Of Anthropic Fires On Ant Assemblage In the Cerra...mentioning

confidence: 99%

The effect of anthropic fires on ant assemblage in the Cerrado of Southeastern Brazil

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et al. 2022

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The Cerrado is the second largest biome in South America and due to its great species, richness, and environmental degradation, is considered a biodiversity hotspot. Fires in Cerrado can occur both naturally and through anthropic influence. However, due to the latter, the occurrence of fires has been increasingly frequent, as well as its impact on biotic communities. Ants’ colonies are widely used in studies of environmental impacts because of their responsiveness to environmental changes and easiness for their data to be analyzed. Here, the structure of the ants’ community in Cerrado environments at different areas post-fire times (two and four months, and a control area) in Itumirim, Minas Gerais, Brazil, was evaluated. Attractive baits were used as sampling methods, and found 48 species of ants belonging to 18 genera. Species richness was the same in all areas, showing that both two and four months after the fire occurrences seem to be enough to recover the ant population of these areas. Regarding ant composition, there were important differences, especially between the control area and the four months post-fire area. Moreover, vegetal biomass and vegetation covers only influenced ant composition. Here, it was found that species composition seems to be a better indicator of the responses of ant communities to post-fire effects, and can be used as a tool in monitoring programs.

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Limited effects of fire disturbances on the species diversity and structure of ant-plant interaction networks in Brazilian Cerrado

Cited by 18 publications

References 65 publications

Similar topologies of individual‐based plant‐herbivorous networks in forest interior and anthropogenic edges

Similar topologies of individual‐based plant‐herbivorous networks in forest interior and anthropogenic edges

Structural Stability of Ant-plant Mutualistic Networks Mediated by Extrafloral Nectaries: Looking at the Effects of Forest Fragmentation in the Brazilian Amazon

The effect of anthropic fires on ant assemblage in the Cerrado of Southeastern Brazil

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