Reward regulation in plant–frugivore networks requires only weak cues

• Published in: Nature communications Vol. 9; no. 1; pp. 4838 - 11
• Main Authors: Albrecht, Jörg, Hagge, Jonas, Schabo, Dana G., Schaefer, H. Martin, Farwig, Nina
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Nature Publishing Group UK 16.11.2018; Nature Publishing Group; Nature Portfolio
• Subjects: 631/158/2463; 631/158/853; 631/158/856; Animal behavior; Animal Migration - physiology; Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; Animals; Antioxidants; Antioxidants - chemistry; Bird migration; Birds; Birds - classification; Birds - physiology; Body fat; Color; Communication; Cues; Energy intake; Experiments; Flowers & plants; Food Preferences - physiology; Frugivores; Fruit - anatomy & histology; Fruit - chemistry; Fruits; Herbivory - physiology; Humanities and Social Sciences; Immune response; Immune system; Immunity, Innate; Lipids; Lipids - chemistry; Migration; Migratory birds; multidisciplinary; Oxidative stress; Phylogenetics; Physiology; Plant reliability; Plant species; Plants - anatomy & histology; Plants - chemistry; Proteins; Reward; Science; Science (multidisciplinary); Seasons; Seeds; Sugar; Symbiosis - physiology

Theory assumes that fair trade among mutualists requires highly reliable communication. In plant–animal mutualisms the reliability of cues that indicate reward quality is often low. Therefore, it is controversial whether communication allows animal mutualists to regulate their reward intake. Here we...