Defaunation effects on plant recruitment depend on size matching and size trade-offs in seed-dispersal networks.

ABSTRACT: Defaunation by humans causes a loss of large animals in many ecosystems globally. Recent work has emphasized the consequences of downsizing in animal communities for ecosystem functioning. However, no study so far has integrated network theory and life-history trade-offs to mechanistically evaluate the functional consequences of defaunation in plant-animal networks. Here, we simulated an avian seed-dispersal network and its derived ecosystem function seedling recruitment to assess the relative importance of different size-related mechanisms. Specifically, we considered size matching (between bird size and seed size) and size trade-offs, which are driven by differences in plant or animal species abundance (negative size-quantity relationship) as well as in recruitment probability and disper

SUBMITTER: Donoso I 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5454253 | biostudies-literature | 2017 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature