Trophic level, successional age and trait matching determine specialization of deadwood-based interaction networks of saproxylic beetles.

ABSTRACT: The specialization of ecological networks provides important insights into possible consequences of biodiversity loss for ecosystem functioning. However, mostly mutualistic and antagonistic interactions of living organisms have been studied, whereas detritivore networks and their successional changes are largely unexplored. We studied the interactions of saproxylic (deadwood-dependent) beetles with their dead host trees. In a large-scale experiment, 764 logs of 13 tree species were exposed to analyse network structure of three trophic groups of saproxylic beetles over 3 successional years. We found remarkably high specialization of deadwood-feeding xylophages and lower specialization of fungivorous and predatory species. During deadwood succession, community composition, network specializa

SUBMITTER: Wende B 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5443943 | biostudies-literature | 2017 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature