Forbidden links, trait matching and modularity in plant-hummingbird networks: Are specialized modules characterized by higher phenotypic floral integration?

ABSTRACT:

Background

Plant-pollinator mutualistic networks show non-random structural properties that promote species coexistence. However, these networks show high variability in the interacting species and their connections. Mismatch between plant and pollinator attributes can prevent interactions, while trait matching can enable exclusive access, promoting pollinators' niche partitioning and, ultimately, modularity. Thus, plants belonging to specialized modules should integrate their floral traits to optimize the pollination function. Herein, we aimed to analyze the biological processes involved in the structuring of plant-hummingbird networks by linking network morphological constraints, specialization, modularity and phenotypic floral integration.

Methods

We investigated the unde

SUBMITTER: Izquierdo-Palma J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7955668 | biostudies-literature | 2021

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature