Ant-plant interaction in a tropical savanna: may the network structure vary over time and influence on the outcomes of associations?

ABSTRACT: Plant-animal interactions occur in a community context of dynamic and complex ecological interactive networks. The understanding of who interacts with whom is a basic information, but the outcomes of interactions among associates are fundamental to draw valid conclusions about the functional structure of the network. Ecological networks studies in general gave little importance to know the true outcomes of interactions and how they may change over time. We evaluate the dynamic of an interaction network between ants and plants with extrafloral nectaries, by verifying the temporal variation in structure and outcomes of mutualism for the plant community (leaf herbivory). To reach this goal, we used two tools: bipartite network analysis and experimental manipulation. The networks exhibited the

SUBMITTER: Lange D 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4139372 | biostudies-literature | 2014

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature