Ecological mechanisms explaining interactions within plant–hummingbird networks: morphological matching increases towards lower latitudes
Abstract
Interactions between species are influenced by different ecological mechanisms, such as morphological matching, phenological overlap and species abundances. How these mechanisms explain interaction frequencies across environmental gradients remains poorly understood. Consequently, we also know little about the mechanisms that drive the geographical patterns in network structure, such as complementary specialization and modularity. Here, we use data on morphologies, phenologies and abundances to explain interaction frequencies between hummingbirds and plants at a large geographical scale. For 24 quantitative networks sampled throughout the Americas, we found that the tendency of species to interact with morphologically matching partners contributed to specialized and modular network structures. Morphological matching best explained interaction frequencies in networks found closer to the equator and in areas with low-temperature seasonality. When comparing the three ecological mechanisms within networks, we found that both morphological matching and phenological overlap generally outperformed abundances in the explanation of interaction frequencies. Together, these findings provide insights into the ecological mechanisms that underlie geographical patterns in resource specialization. Notably, our results highlight morphological constraints on interactions as a potential explanation for increasing resource specialization towards lower latitudes.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Pub Defense Publication
- Publication Date
- Mar 11, 2020
- Source ID
- 10.1098/rspb.2019.2873
Entities
People
- Aline G. Coelho
- Ana M. Martín González
- Andréa C. Araújo
- Benno I Simmons
- Bo Dalsgaard
- Boris A Tinoco
- Caio Graco Machado
- Carlos Lara
- Carsten Rahbek
- Edgar Chávez-González
- Genilda M. Oliveira
- Isabela Galarda Varassin
- Ivan Sazima
- Jeferson Vizentin-Bugoni
- Jesper Sonne
- Licléia C. Rodrigues
- Liliana Rosero-Lasprilla
- Marcelo Ferreira de Vasconcelos
- Maria Alejandra Maglianesi
- Marlies Sazima
- Matthias Schleuning
- Márcia A. Rocca
- Oscar H MarÍn-gÓmez
- Paulo E Oliveira
- Peter A Cotton
- Pietro K. Maruyama
- Raúl Ortiz-Pulido
- Robert B O'Hara
- Tiago S. Malucelli
Organizations
- Autonomous University of Tlaxcala
- Consejo Nacional de Humanidades, Ciencias y Tecnologías
- Coordenação de Aperfeicoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior
- Danish Institute for Advanced Study
- Danish National Research Foundation
- Distance State University
- Engineer Research and Development Center
- Federal Institute of Brasília
- Federal University of Minas Gerais
- Federal University of Sergipe
- Federal University of Uberlândia
- Imperial College London
- Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions
- National Council for Scientific and Technological Development
- Natural Environment Research Council
- Norwegian University of Science and Technology
- Pontifícia Universidade Católica de Minas Gerais
- Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre
- State University of Feira de Santana
- São Paulo Research Foundation
- Universidad del Azuay
- Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso do Sul
- University of Cambridge
- University of Campinas
- University of Copenhagen
- University of Exeter
- University of Plymouth
- University of Sheffield