Landscape connectivity explains interaction network patterns at multiple scales

CAGNOLO, LUCIANO; VÁZQUEZ, DIEGO P.; ROSLIN, TOMAS; SANTOS, MICAELA; MARRERO, HUGO J.

ECOLOGY

ECOLOGICAL SOC AMER

Año: 2019 vol. 100

0012-9658

Under a metacommunity framework,the spatial configuration of habitat fragments could determine localcommunity structure. Yet, quantifying fragment connectivity ischallenging, as it depends on multiple variables at severalgeographical scales. We assessed the extent to which fragmentconnectivity and area explain patterns in interaction structure amongfour herbivore guilds and their host plants in a metacommunity. Wepropose an integrative connectivity metric including geographicdistance, neighbouring fragment area andsimilarity in resource composition as an extension of Hanski?sclassic metric. We then used non-linear models to assess whetherfragment connectivity and area predicted link richness and similarityin link composition. We found that link richness was alwaysnegatively related to connectivity but at different geographic scalesdepending on the herbivore guild. In contrast, while linkcomposition was also related to connectivity, the direction andstrength of this relationship varied among herbivore guilds and typeof link composition (qualitative or quantitative). Furthermore,focal fragment area was not an important determinant of interactiondiversity in local communities. Our findings emphasize resourcesimilarity as a novel dimension of fragment connectivity relevant inexplaining interaction diversity patterns in natural trophicnetworks.p { margin-bottom: 0.25cm; direction: ltr; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); line-height: 120%; }p.western { font-family: "Liberation Serif", "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; }p.cjk { font-family: "WenQuanYi Micro Hei"; font-size: 12pt; }p.ctl { font-family: "Lohit Devanagari", "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; }a.western:link { }a.ctl:link { }