Land-Use Change in a Mexican Dry Forest Promotes Species Turnover and Increases Nestedness in Plant-Hummingbird Networks: Are Exotic Plants Taking Over?

Background Despite the increasing knowledge of plant-pollinator interaction networks, the effects of human-induced disturbances on them have barely been studied. We analyzed whether land-use changes modified the structure and topology of plant-hummingbird interaction networks or promoted the integration of exotic plant species. Methods Fieldwork was carried out in two vegetation areas in Mexico: a protected tropical dry forest and nearby disturbed sites. For two years we registered hummingbird-plant interactions monthly in each area. Then, we constructed interaction matrices from these data and compared their assemblage structure. Results The conversion of original dry forest to disturbed habitats impacted some assemblage attributes of the plant-hummingbird network. In the disturbed sites, there were more plant species, mainly exotics, and one additional hummingbird species. Most network attributes remained the same except niche width and nestedness (pattern of interactions where generalists and specialists tend to interact with generalists whereas specialist-to-specialist interactions are infrequent), which were higher in the disturbed network. The generalist core in the disturbed network contained half of the core species in the conserved network. Implications for conservation Exotic plants that strongly integrated into the disturbed network may exert a large influence on network dynamics in these areas. Identifying the interacting species and their role provides valuable insights for their conservation and protection. Hummingbirds attracting native plant species have a potential for practical or ornamental use, and hummingbirds presence in human-modified landscapes not only provides positive aesthetic value to people but can additionally contribute to conserving native plants and the biodiversity associated with them.

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Temporal dynamics of the hummingbird-plant interaction network of a dry forest in Chamela, Mexico: a 30-year follow-up after two hurricanes

PeerJ ◽

10.7717/peerj.8338 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 8 ◽

pp. e8338

Author(s):

Sergio Díaz Infante ◽

Carlos Lara ◽

Maria del Coro Arizmendi

Keyword(s):

Plant Species ◽

Network Structure ◽

Temporal Dynamics ◽

Interaction Network ◽

Dry Forest ◽

Interaction Networks ◽

Severe Drought ◽

Plant Interactions ◽

Temporal Perspective ◽

Plant Interaction

Background Interactions among species are a driving force of community structure. The species composition of animal-plant interaction networks can be highly dynamic on a temporal scale, even though the general network structure is usually not altered. However, few studies have examined how interaction networks change over long periods of time, particularly after extreme natural events. We analyzed herein the structure of the hummingbird-plant interaction network in a dry forest of Chamela, Mexico, comparing the structure in 1985–1986 with that in 2016–2017 following the passage of two hurricanes (category 2 Jova in 2011 and category 4 Patricia in 2015). Methods The fieldwork was carried out in the Chamela-Cuixmala Biosphere Reserve in Jalisco, Mexico. In the last 30 years, three severe drought events and two hurricanes have affected this region. Previously, from 1985–1986, hummingbird-plant interactions were recorded monthly for one year in the study area. Then, from 2016–2017, we replicated the sampling in the same localities. We compared the network parameters describing the plant-hummingbird interactions of each period using adjacency matrices. Results We found differences in the number and identity of interacting species, especially plants. The plant species missing in 2016–2017 were either the least connected in the original network (1985–1986) or belonged to groups such as cacti, epiphytes, or trees. The new plant species incorporated in the 2016–2017 network were herbs, vines, and shrubs, or other species barely connected. These changes in the composition are consistent with reports on vegetation damage after strong hurricanes at other study sites. Conversely, all hummingbird species remained in the network, with the exception of Heliomaster constantii, which was primarily connected to a plant species absent in the 2016–2017 network. Migratory and habitat generalist species (i.e., Archilochus spp.) showed higher abundances following the disturbance events. Conclusions Most of the parameters describing the hummingbird-plant network structure remained unchanged after 30 years, with the exception of an increase in plant robustness and hummingbird niche overlap. However, the network’s generalist core was affected by the loss of some species. Also, core plant species such as Ipomoea bracteata, Combretum farinosum, and Justicia candicans were found to be important for maintaining the hummingbird-plant interaction network. The temporal perspective of this study provides unique insights into the conservation of plant-hummingbird networks across time and extreme natural events.

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Changes in bee community structure (Hymenoptera, Apoidea) under three different land-use conditions

Journal of Hymenoptera Research ◽

10.3897/jhr.66.27367 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 66 ◽

pp. 23-38

Author(s):

Alvaro E. Razo-León ◽

Miguel Vásquez-Bolaños ◽

Alejandro Muñoz-Urias ◽

Francisco M. Huerta-Martínez

Keyword(s):

Land Use ◽

Community Structure ◽

Species Turnover ◽

Tropical Dry Forest ◽

Dry Forest ◽

Rarefaction Analysis ◽

Β Diversity ◽

Cultivated Plant ◽

Protection Area ◽

Bee Community

Bee communities were studied with three different conditions of land-use: 1) urban area; 2) crops and livestock; and, 3) preserved vegetation. All three conditions have elements of tropical dry forest and are in the "Sierra de Quila" Flora and Fauna Protection Area and its influence zone. Sampling was carried out throughout the year (three days per month) for each land-use condition. Bee species and their abundance were registered with the intention of knowing how changes in the vegetation are related to bee community structure (richness, abundance, and α and β diversity).A total of 14,054 individuals from 160 species were registered. A rarefaction analysis, showed that the preserved areas had significantly greater richness and diversity. Beta diversity analysis revealed a species turnover of nearly 32% among each pair of conditions. It is concluded that the changes in land-use negatively affect richness and diversity and causes major changes in species composition of the bee community. For this reason, it is recommended that the protection of the tropical dry forest, both for this study area but also in general for Mexico, is essential to guarantee the conservation of this group of insects, which are required for the reproduction of a great number wild and cultivated plant specie.

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Madrigueras de Liomys pictus en dos selvas tropicales del Pacífico mexicano.

Revista Mexicana de Mastozoologia ◽

10.22201/ie.20074484e.2009.13.1.36 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 13 (1) ◽

pp. 63 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Yolanda Domínguez-Castellanos ◽

Beatriz Hernandez Meza ◽

Angeles Mendoza D. ◽

Gerardo Ceballos González

Keyword(s):

Seed Production ◽

Tropical Forests ◽

Plant Species ◽

Deciduous Forest ◽

Vegetation Type ◽

Tropical Dry Forest ◽

Dry Forest ◽

Mexican Pacific ◽

La Selva

Resumen: Se determinó la estructura y el contenido de las madrigueras de Liomys pictus por tipo de vegetación y temporada del año, en dos selvas tropicales del Pacífico Mexicano. Se encontraron 24 madrigueras: en la selva baja la mayoría son complejas, mientras que en la selva mediana son lineales, por consiguiente y de acuerdo a la clasificación de las madrigueras, en selva baja se presentaron madrigueras múltiples y en selva mediana madrigueras simples. De acuerdo al contenido, las de selva baja tienen en promedio una mayor cantidad de materiales en comparación a las de selva mediana. Se catalogaron un total de 248 especies de plantas de estas 50 se comparten en ambos sitios, del total de las especies se llegaron a identificar sólo 77. Las familias más representativas fueron Leguminoseae, Euphorbiaceae y Convolvulaceae. La estructura de las madrigueras no esta determinada por la temporalidad, sin embargo el contenido esta determinado con la cantidad de material almacenado aunque la producción de semillas esta definido por el patrón de fructificación que esta dado a lo largo del año.Palabras clave: Madrigueras, estructura, contenido, Liomys pictus, Jalisco, México.Abstract: We determined the structure and contents of burrows of Liomys pictus by vegetation type and season in two tropical forests of the Mexican Pacific. 24 burrows were found in the tropical dry forest and most complex, in the semi deciduous forest is linear, and therefore according to the classification of the burrows in the tropical dry forest are more numerous and simple in the semi deciduous forest. According to the content, of the tropical dry forest have on average a greater amount of material compared to the semi deciduous forest. Were categorized a total of 248 plant species of these 50 sites are shared in both the total number of species is to determine 77. The most representative families were Leguminoseae, Euphorbiaceae and Convulvolaceae. The structure of the burrows is not affected by the timing, but the content is determined with the amount of stored material but seed production is defined by the pattern of fruit that is given throughout the year.Key words: Burrows, structure, food hoarding, Liomys pictus, Jalisco, Mexico.

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Mammals in tropical dry forest on the central coast of Oaxaca, Mexico

Check List ◽

10.15560/12.2.1862 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 12 (2) ◽

pp. 1862 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Miguel Briones-Salas ◽

Natalia Martín-Regalado ◽

Mario C. Lavariega

Keyword(s):

Deciduous Forest ◽

Species Turnover ◽

Tropical Dry Forest ◽

Similarity Index ◽

Dry Forest ◽

Central Coast ◽

Semideciduous Forest ◽

Southern Mexico ◽

Additional Information ◽

Mammal Diversity

The tropical dry forests of Mexico are one of the world’s biodiversity hotspots. To contribute to the knowledge of mammal diversity and conservation of the central coast of Oaxaca State, southern Mexico, we conducted field surveys in the area. Additional information was obtained from literature and museum databases. In order to compare the taxonomic similitude between areas along the Planicie Costera del Pacífico province we performed a taxonomic similarity analysis using data from the literature and the present study. A total of 49 species of mammals belonging to 19 families and eight orders were recorded. The maximum number of species was recorded in deciduous forest (n = 46), followed by semideciduous forest (n = 11). The similarity index was low (<50%) between areas along the Planicie costera del Pacífico, indicating higher species turnover. The high mammal diversity, the presence of endemic (8%), threatened species (16%), and voluntary conservation areas highlight the importance of this region.

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Effects of climate and land-use gradients on avian phylogenetic and functional diversity in a tropical dry forest

Journal of Arid Environments ◽

10.1016/j.jaridenv.2019.104024 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 173 ◽

pp. 104024

Author(s):

Isadora Correia ◽

Erivelton Rosário do Nascimento ◽

Sidney F. Gouveia

Keyword(s):

Land Use ◽

Functional Diversity ◽

Tropical Dry Forest ◽

Dry Forest

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Influence of past land use and current human disturbance on non-native plant species on small Italian islands

Plant Ecology ◽

10.1007/s11258-010-9751-8 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 210 (2) ◽

pp. 225-239 ◽

Cited By ~ 24

Author(s):

F. Pretto ◽

L. Celesti-Grapow ◽

E. Carli ◽

C. Blasi

Keyword(s):

Land Use ◽

Plant Species ◽

Human Disturbance ◽

Native Plant ◽

Native Plant Species ◽

Past Land Use

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Exotic plant invasion and understorey species richness: a comparison of two types of eucalypt woodland in agricultural Western Australia

Pacific Conservation Biology ◽

10.1071/pc980021 ◽

1998 ◽

Vol 4 (1) ◽

pp. 21 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

Max Abensperg-Traun ◽

Lyn Atkins ◽

Richard Hobbs ◽

Dion Steven

Keyword(s):

Species Richness ◽

Exotic Species ◽

Plant Species ◽

Plant Invasion ◽

Native Plants ◽

Exotic Plants ◽

Exotic Plant ◽

Native Plant ◽

Road Verge ◽

Exotic Plant Invasion

Exotic plants are a major threat to native plant diversity in Australia yet a generic model of the invasion of Australian ecosystems by exotic species is lacking because invasion levels differ with vegetation/soil type and environmental conditions. This study compared relative differences in exotic species invasion (percent cover, spp. richness) and the species richness of herbaceous native plants in two structurally very similar vegetation types, Gimlet Eucalyptus salubris and Wandoo E. capillosa woodlands in the Western Australian wheatbelt. For each woodland type, plant variables were measured for relatively undisturbed woodlands, woodlands with >30 years of livestock grazing history, and woodlands in road-verges. Grazed and road-verge Gimlet and Wandoo woodlands had significantly higher cover of exotic species, and lower species richness of native plants, compared with undisturbed Gimlet and Wandoo. Exotic plant invasion was significantly greater in Gimlet woodlands for both grazed (mean 78% cover) and road-verge sites (mean 42% cover) than in comparable sites in Wandoo woodlands (grazed sites 25% cover, road-verge sites 19% cover). There was no significant difference in the species richness of exotic plants between Wandoo and Gimlet sites for any of the three situations. Mean site richness of native plants was not significantly different between undisturbed Wandoo and undisturbed Gimlet woodlands. Undisturbed woodlands were significantly richer in plant species than grazed and road-verge woodlands for both woodland types. Grazed and road-verge Wandoo sites were significantly richer in plant species than communities in grazed and road-verge Gimlet. The percent cover of exotics was negatively correlated with total (native) plant species richness for both woodland types (Wandoo r = ?0.70, Gimlet r = ?0.87). Of the total native species recorded in undisturbed Gimlet, 83% and 61% were not recorded in grazed and road-verge Gimlet, respectively. This compared with 40% and 33% for grazed and road-verge Wandoo, respectively. Grazed Wandoo and grazed Gimlet sites had significantly fewer native plant species than did road-verge Wandoo and road-verge Gimlet sites. Ecosystem implications of differential invasions by exotic species, and the effects of grazing (disturbance) and other factors influencing susceptibility to exotic plant invasion (landscape, competition and allelopathy) on native species decline are discussed. Exclusion of livestock and adequate methods of control and prevention of further invasions by exotic plants are essential requirements for the conservation of these woodland systems.

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