The Role of Asymmetric Interactions on the Effect of Habitat Destruction in Mutualistic Networks

• Published in: PloS one Vol. 6; no. 6; p. e21028
• Main Authors: Abramson, Guillermo, Trejo Soto, Claudia A., Oña, Leonardo
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Public Library of Science 15.06.2011; Public Library of Science (PLoS)
• Subjects: Analysis; Asymmetry; Biology; Destruction; Ecosystem; Entropy; Environmental degradation; Extinct species; Extinction; Flowers & plants; Habitat loss; Habitats; Mathematical models; Mathematics; Models, Theoretical; Networks; Physics; Plant Physiological Phenomena; Plant reproduction; Pollen; Pollination; Pollinators; Social networks; Species extinction; United States > US; Argentina

Plant-pollinator mutualistic networks are asymmetric in their interactions: specialist plants are pollinated by generalist animals, while generalist plants are pollinated by a broad range involving specialists and generalists. It has been suggested that this asymmetric--or disassortative--assemblage...