A conceptual framework for studying the strength of plant-animal mutualistic interactions.
The strength of species interactions influences strongly the structure and dynamics of ecological systems. Thus, quantifying such strength is crucial to understand how species interactions shape communities and ecosystems. Although the concepts and measurement of interaction strength in food webs have received much attention, there has been comparatively little progress in the context of mutualism. We propose a conceptual scheme for studying the strength of plant-animal mutualistic interactions. We first review the interaction strength concepts developed for food webs, and explore how these concepts have been applied to mutualistic interactions. We then outline and explain a conceptual framework for defining ecological effects in plant-animal mutualisms. We give recommendations for measuring interaction strength from data collected in field studies based on a proposed approach for the assessment of interaction strength in plant-animal mutualisms. This approach is conceptually integrative and methodologically feasible, as it focuses on two key variables usually measured in field studies: the frequency of interactions and the fitness components influenced by the interactions.
Instituto Argentino de Investigaciones de las Zonas Áridas, CONICET, CC 507, 5500, Mendoza, Argentina; Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Cuyo, Centro Universitario, M5502JMA, Mendoza, Argentina.
Diego P
DP
Vázquez
Rodrigo
R
Ramos-Jiliberto
Pasquinell
P
Urbani
Fernanda S
FS
Valdovinos
D000818:Animals; D004463:Ecology / Q000379:methods; D020387:Food Chain; D016015:Logistic Models; D008954:Models, Biological; D010944:Plants; D011157:Population Dynamics; D013559:Symbiosis
Ecological networks; interaction strength; long-term effects; mutualism; plant-animal interactions; short-term effects