Effects of the control of an invasive tree on the structure of a plant-frugivore network

Invasive non-native species are one of the main causes of degradation of ecosystems worldwide. The control of invasive species is key to reduce threats to ecosystem viability in the long-term. Observations of structural changes in ecological interaction networks following invasive species suppression can be useful to monitor the success of ecological restoration initiatives. We evaluated the structure of plant-bird frugivory interaction networks in a plant community invaded by the guava tree (Psidium guajava L.) by comparing network metrics before and after control actions. Psidium guajava was relevant in all metrics for the unmanaged network in this study, with high degree centrality and high nestedness contribution. Based on the asymmetry of species interactions, we found that birds were highly dependent on the invasive plant before suppression. Once P. guajava trees were eliminated, bird and plant species richness, total number of interactions, and modularity increased, whereas neste..., We conducted the study in the Caieira Natural Municipal Park (CNMP), a protected area that covers 1.27 km² (Joinville, state of Santa Catarina, southern Brazil) (26°18’24”S, 48°47’36”W) (Figure 1a).  The climate is subtropical, constantly humid, with hot summers and no dry season, and average maximum temperatures between 26.0 and 27.6º C (Cfa type in the Köppen classification; Joinville, 2021). The vegetation cover of the CNMP is represented by two forest types: coastal forest (restinga arbórea, in Portuguese) and mangrove (Joinville, 2021), both in the Atlantic Forest domain, an important global biodiversity hotspot (Myers et al., 2000) (Figure 1a,b).  The park grants public access to landscaped areas and trails.
Non-native species were planted in a small orchard in the park between 1970 and 2004. Some of those trees, such as guava (Psidium guajava), avocado (Persea americana), and star fruit (Averrhoa carambola), still bear fruit in the area (Preis, 2020). Several invasive non-native ..., , # Data from: Effects of the control of an invasive tree on the structure of a plant-frugivore network

GENERAL INFORMATION

1. Title of Dataset: Effects of the control of an invasive tree on the structure of a plant-frugivore network
2. Author Information
Corresponding Investigator
Name: Ms Brisa Marciniak
Institution: Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Florianopolis, Brazil
Email: [[e-mail]](mailto:[e-mail])
Co-investigator 1
Name: Dr Nivaldo Peroni
Institution: Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Florianopolis, Brazil
Co-investigator 2
Name: Dr Anna Traveset
Institution: Mediterranean Institute of Advanced Studies, Esporles, Spain
Co-investigator 3
Name: Dr Michele de Sá Dechoum
Institution: Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Florianopolis, Brazil
3. Date of data collection: Febrary to April 2021 and Febrary to April 2022

4.Geographic location of data collection: Parque Natural Municipal da Caieira, ...