Interaction motifs variability in a Mediterranean palm under environmental disturbances: the mutualism‐antagonism continuum

The nature and the strength of plant¬ frugivore interactions often vary along an antagonism-mutualism continuum and are highly influenced by the local ecological context (e.g. level of environmental disturbances). However, little is known concerning how the local ecological setting where plant-frugivore interactions take place affects  the seed dispersal effectiveness (SDE) and, eventually, plant recruitment. This knowledge gap relates to  the scarcity of empirical investigations on individual-based plant-frugivore networks. We assessed  whether the assembly of interaction modes (antagonist and mutualist) of the dwarf palm Chamaerops humilis (Arecaeae) affect the individual and the population level SDE in two Mediterranean sites differing in perturbation levels. We analysed the frequency distribution of interaction typologies and test its relationship with variation among individual palms in SDE. Additionally, we document how variation in interaction motiffrequency (e.g. overrepresented...