Searching for keystone plant resources in fruit‐frugivore interaction networks across the Neotropics

• Published in: Biotropica Vol. 52; no. 5; pp. 857 - 870
• Main Authors: Messeder, João Vitor S., Guerra, Tadeu J., Dáttilo, Wesley, Silveira, Fernando A. O.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hoboken Wiley Subscription Services, Inc 01.09.2020
• Subjects: Biogeography; Byrsonima; Cecropia; Conservation; ecological networks; Ecology; Ecosystems; Environmental changes; Forest ecosystems; Frugivores; frugivory; Fruits; Genera; geographical distribution; Identification; latitude; Malpighiaceae; Melastomataceae; Miconia; Modularity; mutualism; Neotropics; nestedness; Networks; Niche overlap; Niches; Plant resources; prioritization; Removal; Resource conservation; Restoration; Sea level; seed dispersal; Simulation; Taxa; Terrestrial ecosystems; Tropical forests; Urticaceae

Identifying keystone plant resources (KPR) is a contentious issue in ecology and conservation. Despite recent advances provided by mutualistic networks, we still lack studies addressing large‐scale identification of keystone plants. We developed a novel quantitative framework for the large‐scale ide...