Global plant-frugivore trait matching is shaped by climate and biogeographic history

Species interactions are influenced by the trait structure of local multi-trophic communities. However, it remains unclear whether mutualistic interactions, in particular, can drive trait patterns at the global scale, where climatic constraints and biogeographic processes gain importance. Here we evaluate global relationships between traits of frugivorous birds and palms (Arecaceae), and how these relationships are affected, directly or indirectly, by assemblage richness, climate and biogeographic history. We leverage a new and expanded gape size dataset for nearly all avian frugivores, and find a positive relationship between gape size and fruit size, that is, trait matching, which is influenced indirectly by palm richness and climate. We also uncover a latitudinal gradient in trait matching strength, which increases towards the tropics and varies among zoogeographic realms. Taken together, our results suggest trophic interactions have consistent influences on trait structure, but that...

物种互作的格局受到局域多营养级群落功能性状结构的调控。然而目前仍不明确，尤其是互利共生互作，是否能够在全球尺度上塑造功能性状格局——在该尺度下，气候限制与生物地理过程的作用愈发凸显。本研究针对食果鸟类与棕榈科（Arecaceae）植物的功能性状间的全球关联展开评估，并解析群落物种丰富度、气候及生物地理历史如何直接或间接调控这些关联。我们依托一套覆盖几乎所有食果鸟类的全新扩充喙裂宽度（gape size）数据集，发现喙裂宽度与果实尺寸间存在正相关关系，即功能性状匹配（trait matching），该关系间接受到棕榈科物种丰富度与气候的影响。本研究同时揭示了功能性状匹配强度的纬度梯度格局：该强度向热带地区递增，且在不同动物地理界（zoogeographic realms）间存在差异。综合来看，本研究结果表明营养级互作对功能性状结构具有稳定的调控作用，但……