Species-area and network-area relationships in host-helminth interactions.

ABSTRACT: The scaling relationship observed between species richness and the geographical area sampled (i.e. the species-area relationship (SAR)) is a widely recognized macroecological relationship. Recently, this theory has been extended to trophic interactions, suggesting that geographical area may influence the structure of species interaction networks (i.e. network-area relationships (NARs)). Here, we use a global dataset of host-helminth parasite interactions to test existing predictions from macroecological theory. Scaling between single locations to the global host-helminth network by sequentially adding networks together, we find support that geographical area influences species richness and the number of species interactions in host-helminth networks. However, species-area slopes were large

SUBMITTER: Dallas TA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8059662 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature