Data from: Components of phylogenetic signal in antagonistic and mutualistic networks

Recent studies have shown a phylogenetic signal in the structure of
ecological networks, making the point that evolutionary history is
important in explaining network architecture. However, this previous work
has focused on either antagonistic (i.e., predator-prey) or mutualistic
networks and has used different methodologies. Thus, a comparative
assessment of both the frequency and the strength of phylogenetic signal
across network types and components of network structure has been
precluded. Here, we address this issue using a data set comprising 60
antagonistic and mutualistic networks. By quantifying simultaneously the
matching and centrality components of network architecture—capturing the
modular and nested structure, respectively—we test the presence and
quantify the strength of phylogenetic signal across network types, species
sets, and components of network structure. We find contrasting differences
across such groups. First, phylogenetic signal is stronger in antagonistic
webs than in mutualistic webs. Second, resources are more strongly
constrained than consumers in food webs, while animals show more
constraints than plants in mutualistic networks. Third, phylogenetic
constraints are stronger for the matching component than for the
centrality component of network structure. These results can shed light on
the contrasting evolutionary constraints shaping network structure across
interaction types and species sets.