Relative contribution of ecological and biological attributes in the fine-grain structure of ant-plant networks.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Ecological communities of interacting species analyzed as complex networks have shown that species dependence on their counterparts is more complex than expected at random. As for other potentially mutualistic interactions, ant-plant networks mediated by extrafloral nectar show a nested (asymmetric) structure with a core of generalist species dominating the interaction pattern. Proposed factors structuring ecological networks include encounter probability (e.g., species abundances and habitat heterogeneity), behavior, phylogeny, and body size. While the importance of underlying factors that influence the structure of ant-plant networks have been separately explored, the simultaneous contribution of several biological and ecological attributes inherent to the species, gui

SUBMITTER: Diaz-Castelazo C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7050545 | biostudies-literature | 2020

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature