From structure to function in mutualistic interaction networks: topologically important frugivores have greater potential as seed dispersers

1. Networks of mutualistic interactions between animals and plants are considered a pivotal part of ecological communities. However, mutualistic networks are rarely studied from the perspective of species-specific roles, and it remains to be established whether those animal species more relevant for network structure also contribute more to the ecological functions derived from interactions. 2. Here, we relate the contribution to seed dispersal of vertebrate species with their topological role in frugivore-plant interaction networks. For one year in two localities with remnant patches of Colombian tropical dry forest, we sampled abundance, morphology, behavior, and fruit consumption from fleshy-fruited plants of various frugivore species. 3. We assessed the network topological role of each frugivore species by integrating their degree of generalization in interactions with plants with their contributions to network nestedness and modularity. We estimated the potential contribution of ea...1. 动植物间互利共生交互网络被视为生态群落的核心组成部分。然而，现有研究极少从物种特异性角色的视角探讨互利共生网络，且在网络结构中更具关键作用的动物物种是否同样能为交互作用所衍生的生态功能做出更多贡献，这一问题仍有待进一步验证。 2. 本研究将脊椎动物物种对种子传播的贡献，与其在食果动物-植物交互网络中的拓扑角色相关联。我们在两处留存有哥伦比亚热带旱生林片段的样地开展了为期一年的野外调查，针对多种食果动物物种，采样记录了其种群丰度、形态特征、行为习性以及对肉质果类植物的取食情况。 3. 我们通过整合各食果动物物种与植物交互的泛化程度，及其对网络嵌套性（nestedness）与模块化（modularity）的贡献，评估了其在网络中的拓扑角色。本研究估算了各……的潜在贡献