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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Seasonal Variation in Bee-Plant Interactions in an Inselberg in the Atlantic Forest in Southeastern Brazil

Sociobiology ◽

10.13102/sociobiology.v65i4.3473 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 65 (4) ◽

pp. 612 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Marcelita França Marques ◽

Mariana Scaramussa Deprá ◽

Maria Cristina Gaglianone

Keyword(s):

Plant Species ◽

Atlantic Forest ◽

Temporal Dynamics ◽

Interaction Network ◽

Dry Season ◽

Floral Resources ◽

Southeastern Brazil ◽

Plant Interactions ◽

Wet Season ◽

Bee Plant

Studies on bee-plant interactions are relevant to the understanding of temporal patterns in neotropical communities. In isolated habitats such as inselbergs little is yet known about the temporal dynamics in the availability of fl oral resources and interacting bee. In the present study, the objective is to verify the eff ect of seasonality on the bee-plant interaction in an Atlantic Forest inselberg in southeastern Brazil. The bees were sampled monthly in the dry (April/2008-September/2008) and wet seasons (October/2008-March/2009) using an entomological net. A total of 322 bees of 33 species were captured on fl owers of 34 species of plants during the year. Bees richness was similar between seasons (22 species in the wet season and 21 in the dry season), but abundance was higher in the wet season (60% of individuals) and higher diversity occurred in the dry season. Augochloropsis sp1 were the most abundant species and visited the largest number of plant species at each season. In the interaction network, plants with the highest degree were distinct between the seasons. The number of possible interactions was higher in the dry season compared to the wet season and connectance was similar; nestedness however varied between the seasons. The composition of plant and bees species was distinct between the seasons, as well as the interactions between them, mainly due to the alteration in the composition of the plant species and the change in the choice of the bees for the floral resources between the seasons.

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Generalist Bee Species on Brazilian Bee-Plant Interaction Networks

Psyche A Journal of Entomology ◽

10.1155/2012/291519 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 2012 ◽

pp. 1-7 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Astrid de Matos Peixoto Kleinert ◽

Tereza Cristina Giannini

Keyword(s):

Apis Mellifera ◽

Plant Species ◽

Native Species ◽

Interaction Networks ◽

Plant Interactions ◽

Generalist Species ◽

Plant Interaction ◽

Bee Plant ◽

The 1960S ◽

Number Of Individuals

Determining bee and plant interactions has an important role on understanding general biology of bee species as well as the potential pollinating relationship between them. Bee surveys have been conducted in Brazil since the end of the 1960s. Most of them applied standardized methods and had identified the plant species where the bees were collected. To analyze the most generalist bees on Brazilian surveys, we built a matrix of bee-plant interactions. We estimated the most generalist bees determining the three bee species of each surveyed locality that presented the highest number of interactions. We found 47 localities and 39 species of bees. Most of them belong to Apidae (31 species) and Halictidae (6) families and to Meliponini (14) and Xylocopini (6) tribes. However, most of the surveys presentedApis melliferaand/orTrigona spinipesas the most generalist species.Apis melliferais an exotic bee species andTrigona spinipes, a native species, is also widespread and presents broad diet breath and high number of individuals per colony.

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

Tropical Conservation Science ◽

10.1177/1940082920978952 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 13 ◽

pp. 194008292097895

Author(s):

Sergio Díaz Infante ◽

Carlos Lara ◽

María del Coro Arizmendi

Keyword(s):

Land Use ◽

Plant Species ◽

Species Turnover ◽

Land Use Changes ◽

Tropical Dry Forest ◽

Exotic Plants ◽

Dry Forest ◽

Interaction Networks ◽

Native Plant ◽

Plant Interactions

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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The effect of landscape on Cucurbita pepo-pollinator interaction networks varies depending on plants’ genetic diversity

Arthropod-Plant Interactions ◽

10.1007/s11829-021-09872-y ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Patricia Landaverde-González ◽

Eunice Enríquez ◽

Juan Núñez-Farfán

Keyword(s):

Genetic Diversity ◽

Land Use ◽

Network Structure ◽

Cucurbita Pepo ◽

Interaction Network ◽

Network Evolution ◽

Interaction Networks ◽

Pollinator Community ◽

Male Flowers ◽

Plant Pollinator

AbstractIn recent years, evidence has been found that plant-pollinator interactions are altered by land-use and that genetic diversity also plays a role. However, how land-use and genetic diversity influence plant–pollinator interactions, particularly in the Neotropics, where many endemic plants exist is still an open question. Cucurbita pepo is a monoecious plant and traditional crop wide distributed, with high rates of molecular evolution, landraces associated with human cultural management and a history of coevolution with bees, which makes this species a promising model for studying the effect of landscape and genetic diversity on plant-pollinator interactions. Here, we assess (1) whether female and male flowers differences have an effect on the interaction network, (2) how C. pepo genetic diversity affects flower-bee visitation network structure, and (3) what is the effect that land-use, accounting for C. pepo genetic variability, has on pumpkin-bee interaction network structure. Our results indicate that female and male flowers presented the same pollinator community composition and interaction network structure suggesting that female/male differences do not have a significant effect on network evolution. Genetic diversity has a positive effect on modularity, nestedness and number of interactions. Further, the effect of semi-natural areas on nestedness could be buffered when genetic diversity is high. Our results suggest that considering genetic diversity is relevant for a better understanding of the effect of land-use on interaction networks. Additionally, this understanding has great value in conserving biodiversity and enhancing the stability of interaction networks in a world facing great challenges of habitat and diversity loss.

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Processes entangling interactions in communities: forbidden links are more important than abundance in a hummingbird–plant network

Proceedings of The Royal Society B Biological Sciences ◽

10.1098/rspb.2013.2397 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 281 (1780) ◽

pp. 20132397 ◽

Cited By ~ 118

Author(s):

Jeferson Vizentin-Bugoni ◽

Pietro Kiyoshi Maruyama ◽

Marlies Sazima

Keyword(s):

Network Structure ◽

Species Interactions ◽

Species Abundance ◽

Interaction Network ◽

Atlantic Rainforest ◽

Relative Importance ◽

Ecological Network ◽

Plant Interaction ◽

Multiple Processes ◽

Network Metrics

Understanding the relative importance of multiple processes on structuring species interactions within communities is one of the major challenges in ecology. Here, we evaluated the relative importance of species abundance and forbidden links in structuring a hummingbird–plant interaction network from the Atlantic rainforest in Brazil. Our results show that models incorporating phenological overlapping and morphological matches were more accurate in predicting the observed interactions than models considering species abundance. This means that forbidden links, by imposing constraints on species interactions, play a greater role than species abundance in structuring the ecological network. We also show that using the frequency of interaction as a proxy for species abundance and network metrics to describe the detailed network structure might lead to biased conclusions regarding mechanisms generating network structure. Together, our findings suggest that species abundance can be a less important driver of species interactions in communities than previously thought.

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Flower-mediated plant-butterfly interactions in an heterogeneous tropical coastal ecosystem

PeerJ ◽

10.7717/peerj.5493 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 6 ◽

pp. e5493 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Cristian A. Martínez-Adriano ◽

Cecilia Díaz-Castelazo ◽

Armando Aguirre-Jaimes

Keyword(s):

Species Richness ◽

Protected Area ◽

Vegetation Type ◽

Interspecific Interactions ◽

Flowering Plants ◽

Interaction Networks ◽

Butterfly Species ◽

Vegetation Types ◽

Plant Interactions ◽

Plant Interaction

Background Interspecific interactions play an important role in determining species richness and persistence in a given locality. However at some sites, the studies, especially for interaction networks on adult butterflies are scarce. The present study aimed the following objectives: (1) determine butterfly species richness and diversity that visit flowering plants, (2) compare species richness and diversity in butterfly-plant interactions among six different vegetation types and (3) analyze the structure of butterfly-flowering plant interaction networks mediated by flowers. Methods The study was developed in six vegetation types within the natural reserve of La Mancha, located in Veracruz, Mexico. In each vegetation type, we recorded the frequency of flower visits by butterflies monthly in round plots (of radius 5 m) for 12 months. We calculated Shannon diversity for butterfly species and diversity of interactions per vegetation type. We determined the classic Jaccard similarity index among vegetation types and estimated parameters at network and species-level. Results We found 123 species of butterflies belonging to 11 families and 87 genera. The highest number of species belonged to Hesperiidae (46 species), followed by Nymphalidae (28) and Pieridae (14). The highest butterfly diversity and interaction diversity was observed in pioneer dune vegetation (PDV), coastal dune scrub (CDS) and tropical deciduous flooding forest and wetland (TDF-W). The same order of vegetation types was found for interaction diversity. Highest species similarity was found between PDV-CDS and PDV-TDF. The butterfly-plant interaction network showed a nested structure with one module. The species Ascia monuste, Euptoieta hegesia and Leptotes cassius were the most generalist in the network, while Horama oedippus, E. hegesia, and L. cassius were the species with highest dependencies per plant species. Discussion Our study is important because it constitutes a pioneer study of butterfly-plant interactions in this protected area, at least for adult butterflies; it shows the diversity of interactions among flowering plants and butterflies. Our research constitutes the first approach (at a community level) to explore the functional role of pollination services that butterflies provide to plant communities. We highlighted that open areas show a higher diversity and these areas shared a higher number of species that shaded sites. In the interaction networks parameters, our results highlighted the higher dependence of butterflies by the flowers on which they feed than vice versa. In conclusion, the plant species (as a feeding resource) seem to limit the presence of butterfly species. Thus, this protected area is highly relevant for Lepidoptera diversity and the interaction between these insects and flowering plants. We suggest that studying plant and butterfly diversity in tropical habitats will provide insight into their interspecific interactions and community structure.

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Effect of Hurricane Karl on a plant–ant network occurring in coastal Veracruz, Mexico

Journal of Tropical Ecology ◽

10.1017/s0266467412000582 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 28 (6) ◽

pp. 603-609 ◽

Cited By ~ 15

Author(s):

Ingrid R. Sánchez-Galván ◽

Cecilia Díaz-Castelazo ◽

Víctor Rico-Gray

Keyword(s):

Plant Species ◽

Vegetation Cover ◽

Sand Dune ◽

Deciduous Forest ◽

Plant Cover ◽

Dry Forest ◽

Sample Length ◽

Plant Interactions ◽

Before And After ◽

Number Of Plant Species

Abstract:We analysed the effect of a hurricane on a plant–ant network and on vegetation cover. Plant cover was sampled using linear sampling in several vegetation types: deciduous forest, a dry forest, sand dune pioneers, sand dune scrub, ecotone of freshwater marsh, deciduous forest and dune scrub, and mangrove forest. We sampled ant–plant interactions and vegetation cover before and after Hurricane Karl hitting (September 2010) the central coast of the state of Veracruz, Mexico. The pre-hurricane network consisted of 16 plant and 25 ant species in 52 associations. The post-hurricane network consisted of 17 plant and 20 ant species in 56 associations. We found a significant decrease in the total linear cover of EFN-bearing plants between October 2009 (646 m, no hurricane effect) and October 2010 (393 m, after hurricane Karl) (total sample length 2025 m). Both networks were significantly nested (0.999 and 0.973, P < 0.001), suggesting that network topology remained similar. Our results show changes in several network characteristics and species proportions. The number of plant species that contributed to nestedness vs. idiosyncratic species did not differ significantly in the pre-hurricane network, while the number of plant species that contributed to nestedness vs. idiosyncratic species did differ significantly in the post-hurricane network. The number of ant species that contributed to nestedness vs. idiosyncratic species differed significantly in the pre-hurricane network, and also in the post-hurricane network. Differences in nestedness contributions of species before and after the hurricane reflect an alteration from a generalized, highly nested, more stable pre-disturbance network, to a more low-degree or specialized network (i.e. fewer interactions among generalist species, those species with the most associations). The maintenance of important core components of the network after a huge disturbance, suggests a short-term resilience typical of mutualistic networks.

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Neither ant dominance nor abundance explain ant-plant network structure in Mexican temperate forests

PeerJ ◽

10.7717/peerj.10435 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 8 ◽

pp. e10435

Author(s):

Brenda Juárez-Juárez ◽

Mariana Cuautle ◽

Citlalli Castillo-Guevara ◽

Karla López-Vázquez ◽

María Gómez-Ortigoza ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Trophic Level ◽

Network Structure ◽

Dominance Hierarchy ◽

Ecological Factors ◽

Interaction Network ◽

Oak Forest ◽

Plant Interactions ◽

The Core ◽

Core Species ◽

Dominant Ant

Background Ant-plant mutualistic networks tend to have a nested structure that contributes to their stability, but the ecological factors that give rise to this structure are not fully understood. Here, we evaluate whether ant abundance and dominance hierarchy determine the structure of the ant-plant networks in two types of vegetation: oak and grassland, in two temperate environments of Mexico: Flor del Bosque State Park (FBSP) and La Malinche National Park (MNP). We predicted that dominant and abundant ant species make up the core, and submissives, the periphery of the network. We also expected a higher specialization level in the ant trophic level than in plant trophic level due to competition among the ant species for the plant-derived resources. Methods The ant-plant interaction network was obtained from the frequency of ant-plant interactions. We calculated a dominance hierarchy index for the ants using sampling with baits and evaluated their abundance using pitfall traps. Results In MNP, the Formica spp. species complex formed the core of the network (in both the oak forest and the grassland), while in FBSP, the core species were Prenolepis imparis (oak forest) and Camponotus rubrithorax (grassland). Although these core species were dominant in their respective sites, they were not necessarily the most dominant ant species. Three of the four networks (oak forest and grassland in FBSP, and oak forest in MNP) were nested and had a higher number of plant species than ant species. Although greater specialization was observed in the ant trophic level in the two sites and vegetations, possibly due to competition with the more dominant ant species, this was not statistically significant. In three of these networks (grassland and oak forest of MNP and oak forest of FBSP), we found no correlation between the dominance hierarchy and abundance of the ant species and their position within the network. However, a positive correlation was found between the nestedness contribution value and ant dominance hierarchy in the grassland of the site FBSP, which could be due to the richer ant-plant network and higher dominance index of this community. Conclusions Our evidence suggests that ant abundance and dominance hierarchy have little influence on network structure in temperate ecosystems, probably due to the species-poor ant-plant network and a dominance hierarchy formed only by the presence of dominant and submissive species with no intermediate dominant species between them (absence of gradient in hierarchy) in these ecosystems.

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Persistent variation in spatial behavior affects the structure and function of interaction networks

Current Zoology ◽

10.1093/czoolo/61.1.98 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 61 (1) ◽

pp. 98-106 ◽

Cited By ~ 18

Author(s):

Noa Pinter-Wollman

Keyword(s):

Network Structure ◽

Interaction Network ◽

Structure And Function ◽

Spatial Behavior ◽

Interaction Networks ◽

Harvester Ants ◽

Spatial Features ◽

Physical Barriers ◽

And Function ◽

Animal Personalities

Abstract The function of a network is affected by its structure. For example, the presence of highly interactive individuals, or hubs, influences the extent and rate of information spread across a network. In a network of interactions, the duration over which individual variation in interactions persists may affect how the network operates. Individuals may persist in their behavior over time and across situations, often referred to as personality. Colonies of social insects are an example of a biological system in which the structure of the coordinated networks of interacting workers may greatly influence information flow within the colony, and therefore its collective behavior. Here I investigate the effects of persistence in walking patterns on interaction networks using computer simulations that are parameterized using observed behavior of harvester ants. I examine how the duration of persistence in spatial behavior influences network structure. Furthermore, I explore how spatial features of the environment affect the relationship between persistent behavior and network structure. I show that as persistence increases, the skewness of the weighted degree distribution of the interaction network increases. However, this relationship holds only when ants are confined in a space with boundaries, but not when physical barriers are absent. These findings suggest that the influence of animal personalities on network structure and function depends on the environment in which the animals reside.

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