Natural history matters: how biological constraints shape diversified interactions in pollination networks

Jordano, Pedro

doi:10.1111/1365-2656.12584

Cited by 12 publications

(10 citation statements)

References 16 publications

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“…Therefore, ant–diaspore interaction may be determined not only by morphological limitation on diaspore removal, but also by the optimization of energy intake when removing them (e.g., fatty acids concentration) [ 79 ]. Likewise, phenotypic trait matching is thus a key influence in the effectiveness of plant–animal interactions, where the interaction outcomes depend on close matching [ 80 ]. Therefore, in seed dispersal by ants, for instance, with a greater trait-matching fit (e.g., mandible and diaspore size), there is a greater seed removal distance, and the effectiveness of this interaction is greater [ 9 , 81 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Unmasking the architecture of ant–diaspore networks in the Brazilian Savanna

2018

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Ant–diaspore interactions are directly related to fruit consumption, seed predation and dispersal, being determinant for the plant fitness. However, although abundant and diversified, these ecological interactions have been neglected in network studies. Understanding the structure of these networks is the first step in preserving these ecological functions. However, describing the network structure is not enough; we need to understand what mechanisms are behind the network patterns. In this study, for the first time, we describe the structure of the ant–diaspore network, considering only the interactions that can benefit plants, separating it into fruit consumption and diaspore removal networks in the Brazilian Savanna. We postulated that ant–diaspore interactions tend to be more specialized in the diaspore removal network compared to the fruit consumption network. Furthermore, we tested whether morphological features, such as size of mandibles of ants and diaspores, could modulate these ecological networks. Overall, we recorded 24 ant and 29 plant species interacting. We found that fruit consumption and diaspore removal networks exhibited similar patterns of interactions (i.e., non-modular), although only the diaspore removal network was nested. The diaspore removal network did not show a more specialized pattern than the fruit consumption network, since both networks consisted of opportunistic interactions. We found that ant mandible and diaspore size does not explain the structure of ecological networks, but in diaspore removal networks the relationship between these morphological traits may explain the pattern of interactions. Thus, we showed that mandible size of ants may have implications on seedling recruitment, suggesting that mandible size can predict possible effects on plant fitness within in diaspore removal networks. Overall, ant–diaspore networks maintain important ecological functions, such as fruit consumption and seed dispersal, which often implies an increase in reproductive success of the plants.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Unmasking the architecture of ant–diaspore networks in the Brazilian Savanna

2018

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“…The structure and function of pollination networks have been the subject of considerable research interest (Jordano, 2016;Nicolson & Wright, 2017;Petanidou, Kallimanis, Tzanopoulos, Sgardelis, & Pantis, 2008). Despite examples of remarkable mutualisms between specific plants and their pollinator species (Johnson, Hollens, & Kuhlmann, 2012;Stokl, Brodmann, Dafni, Ayasse, & Hansson, 2011), plant-pollinator networks often have a generalised structure (Bascompte, Jordano, Melian, & Olesen, 2003;Memmott, 1999;Waser, Chittka, Price, Williams, & Ollerton, 1996) in which plant species are visited by numerous pollinator taxa, and pollinators in turn visit a number of plant species.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Generalisation and specialisation in hoverfly (Syrphidae) grassland pollen transport networks revealed by DNA metabarcoding

Lucas

Bodger

Brosi

et al. 2018

Journal of Animal Ecology

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Pollination by insects is a key ecosystem service and important to wider ecosystem function. Most species‐level pollination networks studied have a generalised structure, with plants having several potential pollinators, and pollinators in turn visiting a number of different plant species. This is in apparent contrast to a plant's need for efficient conspecific pollen transfer.The aim of this study was to investigate the structure of pollen transport networks at three levels of biological hierarchy: community, species and individual. We did this using hoverflies in the genus Eristalis, a key group of non‐Hymenopteran pollinators.We constructed pollen transport networks using DNA metabarcoding to identify pollen. We captured hoverflies in conservation grasslands in west Wales, UK, removed external pollen loads, sequenced the pollen DNA on the Illumina MiSeq platform using the standard plant barcode rbcL, and matched sequences using a pre‐existing plant DNA barcode reference library.We found that Eristalis hoverflies transport pollen from 65 plant taxa, more than previously appreciated. Networks were generalised at the site and species level, suggesting some degree of functional redundancy, and were more generalised in late summer compared to early summer. In contrast, pollen transport at the individual level showed some degree of specialisation. Hoverflies defined as “single‐plant visitors” varied from 40% of those captured in early summer to 24% in late summer. Individual hoverflies became more generalised in late summer, possibly in response to an increase in floral resources. Rubus fruticosus agg. and Succisa pratensis were key plant species for hoverflies at our sitesOur results contribute to resolving the apparent paradox of how generalised pollinator networks can provide efficient pollination to plant species. Generalised hoverfly pollen transport networks may result from a varied range of short‐term specialised feeding bouts by individual insects. The generalisation and functional redundancy of Eristalis pollen transport networks may increase the stability of the pollination service they deliver.

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“…number of species in the network) and interaction diversity (i.e. number of different interactions) (Anjos et al ., ), but can also act as a morphological constraint preventing seed removal by ants, which can be considered ‘forbidden links’ (Pizo & Oliveira, ; Jordano, ). Hence, even when limited by morphological traits, harvester ants maximise the energy intake by collecting abundant, carbohydrate‐rich, and medium‐sized seeds (Crist & MacMahon, ; Pirk et al ., , Pirk & Lopez‐de‐Casenave, 2010).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Species body size is an important biotic trait conditioning ecological interactions (Stang et al, 2006;Jordano, 2016). Therefore, the fit between seed and ant sizes can determine network size (i.e.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Structural changes over time in individual‐based networks involving a harvester ant, seeds, and invertebrates

Anjos

Luna

Borges

et al. 2019

Ecological Entomology

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1. Harvester ants perform important ecological functions, such as seed predation and redistribution of nutrients in the soil, through a complex of ecological interactions. Most studies are static descriptions of network structure, while their temporal organisations and the factors that modulate it have been neglected. 2. This study describes the temporal organisation and the influence of climatic variables (e.g. temperature and rainfall) on network structure between a harvester ant species and its food resources (seeds and invertebrates) in the Brazilian savanna over a 1‐year period. In addition, considering the ant–seed networks, the relationship between the size of seeds collected by ants and the distance travelled was examined, as well as how this relationship behaves over time. 3. For all network types (ant–seed, ant–invertebrate, and combined) there was great structural variation throughout the year. Among climatic variables, only rainfall influenced the properties of ant–invertebrate networks, presenting a positive influence on diversity of interactions and a negative influence on network specialisation. Finally, this study shows that harvester ants tend to collect larger seeds in the vicinity of the nest (< 5 m) and smaller seeds at greater distances, and this relationship appears to be constant over time. 4. This study highlights that ecological networks are useful tools with which to understand the temporal organisation of ecological functions. In addition, climatic changes, mainly in the rainfall regime, may interfere directly in the availability of resources and ultimately in the interactions between harvester ants and their food resources.

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Natural history matters: how biological constraints shape diversified interactions in pollination networks

Cited by 12 publications

References 16 publications

Unmasking the architecture of ant–diaspore networks in the Brazilian Savanna

Unmasking the architecture of ant–diaspore networks in the Brazilian Savanna

Generalisation and specialisation in hoverfly (Syrphidae) grassland pollen transport networks revealed by DNA metabarcoding

Structural changes over time in individual‐based networks involving a harvester ant, seeds, and invertebrates

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