Article
Ecology
Martina Carrete, Fernando Hiraldo, Pedro Romero-Vidal, Guillermo Blanco, Dailos Hernandez-Brito, Esther Sebastian-Gonzalez, Jose A. Diaz-Luque, Jose L. Tella
Summary: This study evaluated global interactions between parrots and palms using a combination of fieldwork, literature, and citizen science data. The results showed that parasitic and mutualistic interactions coexist, with seed dispersal being a major mutualistic interaction type. Further research is needed due to variations between palm species and regions.
FRONTIERS IN ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Wyatt J. Parker, Carmela M. Buono, Kirsten M. Prior
Summary: The study found that seed dispersal in eastern deciduous forests of North America is influenced by landscape characteristics, with fewer ant-dispersed seeds found in edge areas, primarily dispersed by Aphaenogaster sp. Antagonistic interactions with an invasive slug had a more significant negative impact on seed dispersal by ants in edge areas compared to interiors.
Article
Biology
Yichao Zeng, John J. Wiens
Summary: The oldest mutualistic interactions in all organisms were found to be significantly older than the oldest antagonistic interactions, while this pattern was reversed in animals. Many mutualistic interactions were shown to persist for hundreds of millions of years, providing evidence for their long-term stability and niche conservatism in species interactions.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY B-BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Carlos Martinez-Nunez, Pedro J. Rey
Summary: The study revealed that environmentally friendly agricultural practices enhance the representation of mutualistic and predation network motifs, while intensive agriculture favors intraguild predation interactions. The frequencies of motifs representing antagonistic interactions were more inconsistent and unpredictable across sites than mutualistic motifs, especially on intensified farms.
FUNCTIONAL ECOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Jose Maria Gomez, Eugene W. Schupp, Pedro Jordano
Summary: Mutualism effectiveness is defined as the contribution of an interacting organism to its partner's fitness, determined by the quantity and quality components of immediate outcomes. The spatial structure of effectiveness values reflects the evolutionary history of mutualistic interactions, with properties such as distribution, relative contribution, and correlation impacting the landscape. Exploring effectiveness landscapes in other mutualisms can provide insights into the evolutionary and ecological consequences of mutualisms.
Article
Ecology
Rong Wang, Yang Yang, Yi Jing, Simon T. Segar, Yu Zhang, Gang Wang, Jin Chen, Qing-Feng Liu, Shan Chen, Yan Chen, Astrid Cruaud, Yuan-Yuan Ding, Derek W. Dunn, Qiang Gao, Philip M. Gilmartin, Kai Jiang, Finn Kjellberg, Hong-Qing Li, Yuan-Yuan Li, Jian-Quan Liu, Min Liu, Carlos A. Machado, Ray Ming, Jean-Yves Rasplus, Xin Tong, Ping Wen, Huan-Ming Yang, Jing-Jun Yang, Ye Yin, Xing-Tan Zhang, Yuan-Ye Zhang, Hui Yu, Zhen Yue, Stephen G. Compton, Xiao-Yong Chen
Summary: This study reveals the molecular mechanisms underlying coevolved mutualism between Ficus pumila var. pumila and its specific pollinating wasp, Wiebesia pumilae, through analysis of high-quality genomes. The research identifies specific attractants and key genes regulating biosynthesis in the plant, as well as reduced odorant-binding protein genes in the pollinator.
NATURE ECOLOGY & EVOLUTION
(2021)
Article
Biology
Jordi de Raad, Martin Paeckert, Martin Irestedt, Axel Janke, Alexey P. Kryukov, Jochen Martens, Yaroslav A. Red'kin, Yuehua Sun, Till Toepfer, Matthias Schleuning, Eike Lena Neuschulz, Maria A. Nilsson
Summary: Resource specialization did not play a major role in the diversification and speciation of seed dispersing nutcrackers. Bird-mediated seed dispersal is crucial for ecosystem regeneration and viability, but how this mutualism affects bird evolution is poorly understood. This study analyzed the Eurasian nutcracker's evolution using genomic and morphometric data, finding similarities in divergence and phylogeographic patterns with other non-mutualistic birds. Limited variation in foraging traits suggests minor local adaptation to pines. The study suggests that close mutualistic relationships might not be the primary driver of evolution and diversification in resource-specialized birds.
COMMUNICATIONS BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Youssef Yacine, Nicolas Loeuille
Summary: Ecological communities are made up of multiple species that interact in various ways. Understanding how these species coexist requires considering the diversity of interactions. By studying a typical three-species module of plant-pollinator-herbivore communities, we identified the importance of balancing pollination and herbivory interactions in maintaining stable coexistence. Empirical evidence suggests that shared preferences for plant phenotypes contribute to this balance.
ECOLOGICAL MODELLING
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Rens W. Vaessen, Klaske van Wijngaarden, Laura Boeschoten, Ronja Knippers, Livia Durazzo, Loes Verkuil, Marijke van Kuijk
Summary: Seed dispersal is a crucial mechanism for plant conservation, especially in tropical regions where most woody plant species rely on vertebrates to disperse their seeds through fruit consumption. With the aim of facilitating research on seed dispersal and seed predation in the Guianas, a database of fruit and seed traits and vertebrate-fruit interactions for tree and vertebrate species was compiled. The analysis revealed a taxonomic bias towards large-bodied vertebrates in the interaction data, with certain families of plants being overrepresented or underrepresented.
Article
Ecology
Winer Daniel Reyes-Corral, Sofia Carvajal-Endara, Molly Hetherington-Rauth, Jaime A. Chaves, Peter R. Grant, B. Rosemary Grant, Andrew P. Hendry, Marc T. J. Johnson
Summary: By studying the phenotypic divergence of the plant Tribulus cistoides in island and continental environments, it was found that the characteristics of island environments can influence the evolution of intraspecific traits. Results showed that Tribulus cistoides exhibits phenotypic divergence in antagonistic and mutualistic traits between island and continental habitats. This study demonstrates the potential of using a combination of herbarium and field samples for comparative studies on globally distributed species to study phenotypic divergence in island habitats.
ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2023)
Article
Forestry
Eva K. Nobrega, Roger Vidal-Cardos, Alberto Munoz, Mariona Ferrandiz-Rovira
Summary: Scatter-hoarding rodents play a vital role in seed dispersal and forest regeneration. This study compared the predation and dispersal patterns of holm oak acorns by wood mice in original dense forest vs open forest in Spain. The results showed variations in acorn predation and dispersal between forest types, with a greater acorn fraction being harvested and dispersed further in the managed forest. However, increased predation in the managed forest reduced the proportion of acorns that survived and could potentially grow, impacting the natural regeneration potential of forests.
Article
Plant Sciences
J. Pacheco-Huh, D. Carmona, G. Dzib, M. Chavez-Pesqueira
Summary: Shifts in phenotypes from domestication syndromes impact plant performance and interactions with other species. Little is known about how domestication and cultivation practices can modify ecological interactions. Wild papaya plants had higher diversity and visitation rate of floral visitors, and less foliar damage compared to domesticated plants. Cultivation practices and domestication appear to reduce the diversity of floral visitors and increase foliar damage in domesticated papaya.
Article
Biology
Luis F. Camacho, Leticia Aviles
Summary: In mutualistic associations between hemipterans and ants, ants are less likely to attack and more likely to interact with hemipteran partners, even without a sugary reward. Ants also showed reduced aggression towards an alternative prey type laced with honey, even after the honey was depleted, suggesting an ability to recognize new potential sources of sugars.
Article
Plant Sciences
John L. Maron, Philip G. Hahn, Karyn L. Hajek, Dean E. Pearson
Summary: This study found that small-seeded plants are more affected by competition from dominant species in the community compared to large-seeded plants, but they are less vulnerable to seed predation by rodents. Plant height and leaf mass per area were not related to competition effects, while seed size had a significant impact on both competitive tolerance and population abundance.
JOURNAL OF ECOLOGY
(2021)
Review
Biodiversity Conservation
Luisa Genes, Rodolfo Dirzo
Summary: The review of 127 articles regarding habitat restoration and trophic rewilding showed that seed dispersal and pollination are the most studied interactions, with higher frequency in restored sites. Mammals were the most studied group, and both habitat restoration and trophic rewilding were found to effectively improve seed dispersal and pollination compared to degraded areas.
BIOLOGICAL CONSERVATION
(2022)