Evaluating factors that predict the structure of a commensalistic epiphyte-phorophyte network
Por:
Sáyago R., Lopezaraiza-Mikel M., Quesada M., Álvarez-Añorve M.Y., Cascante-Marín A., Jesus M.
Publicada:
1 ene 2013
Resumen:
A central issue in ecology is the understanding of the establishment of biotic interactions. We studied the factors that affect the assembly of the commensalistic interactions between vascular epiphytes and their host plants. We used an analytical approach that considers all individuals and species of epiphytic bromeliads and woody hosts and non-hosts at study plots. We built models of interaction probabilities among species to assess if host traits and abundance and spatial overlap of species predict the quantitative epiphyte-host network. Species abundance, species spatial overlap and host size largely predicted pairwise interactions and several network metrics. Wood density and bark texture of hosts also contributed to explain network structure. Epiphytes were more common on large hosts, on abundant woody species, with denser wood and/or rougher bark. The network had a low level of specialization, although several interactions were more frequent than expected by the models. We did not detect a phylogenetic signal on the network structure. The effect of host size on the establishment of epiphytes indicates that mature forests are necessary to preserve diverse bromeliad communities. © 2013 The Author(s) Published by the Royal Society. All rights reserved.
Filiaciones:
Sáyago R.:
Centro de Investigaciones en Ecosistemas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Antigua, Carretera a Pátzcuaro 8701, Col., Morelia, Michoacán 58190, Mexico
Unidad Académica en Desarrollo Sustentable, Campus Costa Grande, Universidad Autónoma de Guerrero, Carretera Nacional Acapulco Zihuatanejo Km 106 th 900, Colonia Las Tunas, Tecpan de Galeana, Guerrero 40900, Mexico
Lopezaraiza-Mikel M.:
Centro de Investigaciones en Ecosistemas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Antigua, Carretera a Pátzcuaro 8701, Col., Morelia, Michoacán 58190, Mexico
Quesada M.:
Centro de Investigaciones en Ecosistemas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Antigua, Carretera a Pátzcuaro 8701, Col., Morelia, Michoacán 58190, Mexico
Álvarez-Añorve M.Y.:
Centro de Investigaciones en Ecosistemas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Antigua, Carretera a Pátzcuaro 8701, Col., Morelia, Michoacán 58190, Mexico
Cascante-Marín A.:
Escuela de Biología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica
Jesus M.:
Centro de Investigaciones en Ecosistemas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Antigua, Carretera a Pátzcuaro 8701, Col., Morelia, Michoacán 58190, Mexico
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