Spatial structure of ant-plant mutualistic networks

• Published in: Oikos Vol. 122; no. 11; pp. 1643 - 1648
• Main Authors: Dáttilo, Wesley, Guimarães, Paulo R., Izzo, Thiago J.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.11.2013; Blackwell Publishing; Blackwell
• Subjects: Amazonia; Animal and plant ecology; Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Biological and medical sciences; Environmental factors; Formicidae; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; General aspects; Insects; landscaping; Macroecology; Plant ecology; Symbiosis; South America, Amazon R; Amazonia; Mutualism; Vegetation structure
• ISSN: 0030-1299; 1600-0706
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1600-0706.2013.00562.x

The structure of mutualistic networks provides insights into ecological and coevolutionary dynamics of interacting species. However, the spatial effect has only recently been incorporated as a factor structuring mutualistic networks. In this study, we evaluated how the topological structure and species turnover of ant–plant mutualistic networks vary over a spatial gradient. We showed that although the ant and plant composition of networks changed over space, the central core of generalist species and the structure of networks remained unaltered on a geographic distance of up to 5099 m in the southern Brazilian Amazon. This finding indicates that independently of variation in local and landscape environmental factors, the nonrandom pattern organization of these interacting assemblages do not change. Finally, we suggest that a stable core can increase the potential for coevolutionary convergence of traits among species from both sides of the interaction within the community. These findings contribute to our understanding of the maintenance of biodiversity and coevolutionary processes.