Scholarlink

<p>Land-use change threatens biodiversity by disrupting ecological interaction networks, yet the effects of non-native plantation establishment on native ant–plant networks remain poorly understood. We compared ant–plant interaction networks in native oak forest and introduced eucalyptus plantations within a temperate forest in Mexico. Ant–plant interactions were recorded over six months during the rainy season. Both networks exhibited a modular structure rather than a nested pattern, likely associated with the inclusion of both resource-based (e.g. floral nectar and hemipteran honeydew) and non-resource-based interactions (e.g. patrolling and resting). <i>Eucalyptus</i> plantations supported higher species richness (12 ant species and 57 plant species) than oak forests (7 ant species and 52 plant species). The same central ant species (<i>Prenolepis imparis</i>, <i>Temnothorax tricarinatus</i>), both cold-climate specialists, were present in both networks. Network-level specialization and modularity were significantly higher in the eucalyptus network, probably due to reduced interaction strength and centrality of <i>P. imparis</i>. This reduction likely facilitated the formation of a module containing <i>T. tricarinatus</i> but lacking <i>P. imparis</i> in the eucalyptus plantation. Module reorganization was likely associated with shifts from hemipteran honeydew use in the oak forest to floral nectar and cladodes in the eucalyptus plantation, as well as changes in interaction context related to competition. These findings suggest that modular structures may buffer disturbance spread, promoting the persistence of central components at both species and functional group levels. Nevertheless, land-use change altered both network- and species-level properties, which should be considered when evaluating the effects of land-use changes associated with eucalyptus establishment.</p>

错误：搜索内容不能为空，请输入英文关键词
错误：关键词超出字数限制，请精简
高级检索

Modularity buffers ant-plant network structure following conversion of oak forest to Eucalyptus plantation

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2026年6月2日

查看全文
  • Aranza Mateos-Gómez,
  • Mariana Cuautle

摘要

Land-use change threatens biodiversity by disrupting ecological interaction networks, yet the effects of non-native plantation establishment on native ant–plant networks remain poorly understood. We compared ant–plant interaction networks in native oak forest and introduced eucalyptus plantations within a temperate forest in Mexico. Ant–plant interactions were recorded over six months during the rainy season. Both networks exhibited a modular structure rather than a nested pattern, likely associated with the inclusion of both resource-based (e.g. floral nectar and hemipteran honeydew) and non-resource-based interactions (e.g. patrolling and resting). Eucalyptus plantations supported higher species richness (12 ant species and 57 plant species) than oak forests (7 ant species and 52 plant species). The same central ant species (Prenolepis imparis, Temnothorax tricarinatus), both cold-climate specialists, were present in both networks. Network-level specialization and modularity were significantly higher in the eucalyptus network, probably due to reduced interaction strength and centrality of P. imparis. This reduction likely facilitated the formation of a module containing T. tricarinatus but lacking P. imparis in the eucalyptus plantation. Module reorganization was likely associated with shifts from hemipteran honeydew use in the oak forest to floral nectar and cladodes in the eucalyptus plantation, as well as changes in interaction context related to competition. These findings suggest that modular structures may buffer disturbance spread, promoting the persistence of central components at both species and functional group levels. Nevertheless, land-use change altered both network- and species-level properties, which should be considered when evaluating the effects of land-use changes associated with eucalyptus establishment.