title: Correlated loss of ecosystem services in coupled mutualistic networks.
abstract: Networks of species interactions promote biodiversity and provide important ecosystem services. These networks have traditionally been studied in isolation, but species are commonly involved in multiple, diverse types of interaction. Therefore, whether different types of species interaction networks coupled through shared species show idiosyncratic or correlated responses to habitat degradation is unresolved. Here we study the collective response of coupled mutualistic networks of plants and their pollinators and seed dispersers to the degradation of Europe's last relict of old-growth lowland forest (Białowieża, Poland). We show that logging of old-growth forests has correlated effects on the number of partners and interactions of plants in both mutualisms, and that these effects are mediated by shifts in plant densities on logged sites. These results suggest bottom-up-controlled effects of habitat degradation on plant-animal mutualistic networks, and predict that the conversion of primary old-growth forests to secondary habitats may cause a parallel loss of multiple animal-mediated ecosystem services.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ecology-Conservation Ecology, Faculty of Biology, Philipps-Universität Marburg, Karl-von-Frisch Street 8, D-35032 Marburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Jörg
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Albrecht
authors.affiliation: Department of Ecology-Conservation Ecology, Faculty of Biology, Philipps-Universität Marburg, Karl-von-Frisch Street 8, D-35032 Marburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Dana Gertrud
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Berens
authors.affiliation: Białowieża Geobotanical Station, Faculty of Biology, University of Warsaw, Sportowa 19, PL-17-230 Białowieża, Poland.
authors.forename: Bogdan
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Jaroszewicz
authors.affiliation: Institute of Nature Conservation, Polish Academy of Sciences, Mickiewicza 33, PL-31-120 Krakow, Poland.
authors.forename: Nuria
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Selva
authors.affiliation: Department of Ecology-Animal Ecology, Faculty of Biology, Philipps-Universität Marburg, Karl-von-Frisch Street 8, D-35032 Marburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Roland
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Brandl
authors.affiliation: Department of Ecology-Conservation Ecology, Faculty of Biology, Philipps-Universität Marburg, Karl-von-Frisch Street 8, D-35032 Marburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Nina
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Farwig
mesh_terms: D044822:Biodiversity; D003247:Conservation of Natural Resources; D017753:Ecosystem; D011044:Poland; D054817:Pollination / Q000502:physiology*; D058614:Seed Dispersal / Q000502:physiology*; D013559:Symbiosis; D014197:Trees / Q000254:growth & development*