The temporal dynamics of plant-animal mutualistic interactions

VÁZQUEZ, DIEGO P

Paris

Simposio; 4 th Symposium on Ecological Networks; 2019

Museo de Historia Natural de París

Time is an essential aspect of ecological systems. Ecological and evolutionary processes operate at characteristic temporal scales, which calls for an explicit consideration of the temporal dimension in studies of ecological networks. These networks are highly dynamic, and a challenge is to identify the drivers of such variation. We also need to understand the extent to which the temporal scale at which data are collected and analyzed influences our perception of the structure of mutualistic networks. I will offer an overview of the growing number of studies of plant-animal mutualistic networks that have considered the temporal dimension and what kinds of insights these studies are providing into the mechanisms that shape network structure. I will also discuss how the temporal scales at which we collect and aggregate our data influence our perception of ecological networks. All in all, my overview will highlight the key role of the temporal scale for our understanding of the structure and dynamics of mutualistic networks and for the application of this understanding for the management of ecosystems.