title: High proportion of smaller ranged hummingbird species coincides with ecological specialization across the Americas.
abstract: Ecological communities that experience stable climate conditions have been speculated to preserve more specialized interspecific associations and have higher proportions of smaller ranged species (SRS). Thus, areas with disproportionally large numbers of SRS are expected to coincide geographically with a high degree of community-level ecological specialization, but this suggestion remains poorly supported with empirical evidence. Here, we analysed data for hummingbird resource specialization, range size, contemporary climate, and Late Quaternary climate stability for 46 hummingbird-plant mutualistic networks distributed across the Americas, representing 130 hummingbird species (ca 40% of all hummingbird species). We demonstrate a positive relationship between the proportion of SRS of hummingbirds and community-level specialization, i.e. the division of the floral niche among coexisting hummingbird species. This relationship remained strong even when accounting for climate, furthermore, the effect of SRS on specialization was far stronger than the effect of specialization on SRS, suggesting that climate largely influences specialization through species' range-size dynamics. Irrespective of the exact mechanism involved, our results indicate that communities consisting of higher proportions of SRS may be vulnerable to disturbance not only because of their small geographical ranges, but also because of their high degree of specialization.
authors: Center for Macroecology, Evolution and Climate, Natural History Museum of Denmark, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 15, Copenhagen Ø 2100, Denmark jsonne@snm.ku.dk.
authors: Jesper
authors: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-8570-7288
authors: J
authors: Sonne
authors: Center for Macroecology, Evolution and Climate, Natural History Museum of Denmark, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 15, Copenhagen Ø 2100, Denmark Pacific Ecoinformatics and Computational Ecology Lab, 1604 McGee Avenue, Berkeley, CA 94703, USA.
authors: Ana M
authors: AM
authors: Martín González
authors: Center for Macroecology, Evolution and Climate, Natural History Museum of Denmark, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 15, Copenhagen Ø 2100, Denmark Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ecologia, Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP), Cx. Postal 6109, Campinas, SP 13083-865, Brazil.
authors: Pietro K
authors: PK
authors: Maruyama
authors: Section for Ecoinformatics and Biodiversity, Department of Bioscience, Aarhus University, Ny Munkegade 114, Aarhus C 8000, Denmark.
authors: Brody
authors: B
authors: Sandel
authors: Center for Macroecology, Evolution and Climate, Natural History Museum of Denmark, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 15, Copenhagen Ø 2100, Denmark Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ecologia, Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP), Cx. Postal 6109, Campinas, SP 13083-865, Brazil.
authors: Jeferson
authors: J
authors: Vizentin-Bugoni
authors: Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre (BiK-F), Senckenberganlage 25, Frankfurt (Main) 60325, Germany.
authors: Matthias
authors: M
authors: Schleuning
authors: Nees Institute of Plant Biodiversity, Meckenheimer Allee 170, Bonn 53115, Germany Institute of Systematic Botany, Zollikerstrasse, Zurich 107, Switzerland.
authors: Stefan
authors: S
authors: Abrahamczyk
authors: Biology Program, California State University Channel Islands, Camarillo, CA 93012, USA.
authors: Ruben
authors: R
authors: Alarcón
authors: Centro de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso do Sul, Campo Grande, Mato Grosso do Sul 79070-900, Brazil.
authors: Andréa C
authors: AC
authors: Araujo
authors: Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ecologia, Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP), Cx. Postal 6109, Campinas, SP 13083-865, Brazil.
authors: Francielle P
authors: FP
authors: Araújo
authors: Department of Biology, Rural Federal University of Pernambuco, Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil.
authors: Severino
authors: S
authors: Mendes de Azevedo
authors: Center for Macroecology, Evolution and Climate, Natural History Museum of Denmark, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 15, Copenhagen Ø 2100, Denmark.
authors: Andrea C
authors: AC
authors: Baquero
authors: Marine Biology and Ecology Research Centre, Plymouth University, Plymouth PL4 8AA, UK.
authors: Peter A
authors: PA
authors: Cotton
authors: Dybbøl Bygade 73, Sønderborg 6400, Denmark.
authors: Tanja Toftemark
authors: TT
authors: Ingversen
authors: Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazônia, Avenida André Araújo 2936, Petrópolis, Manaus CEP 69080-971, Brazil.
authors: Glauco
authors: G
authors: Kohler
authors: Centro de Investigación en Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Autónoma de Tlaxcala, Km 10.5 Autopista Tlaxcala-San Martín Texmelucan, San Felipe Ixtacuixtla, Tlaxcala 90120, Mexico.
authors: Carlos
authors: C
authors: Lara
authors: Department of Zoology, Federal University of Pernambuco, Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil.
authors: Flor Maria
authors: FM
authors: Guedes Las-Casas
authors: Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Federal de Uberlândia -UFU, Uberlândia, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
authors: Adriana O
authors: AO
authors: Machado
authors: Laboratório de Ornitologia, Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Estadual de Feira de Santana, Feira de Santana, Bahia 44036-900, Brazil.
authors: Caio Graco
authors: CG
authors: Machado
authors: Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre (BiK-F), Senckenberganlage 25, Frankfurt (Main) 60325, Germany Vicerrectoría de Investigación, Universidad Estatal a Distancia (UNED), San José, Costa Rica.
authors: María Alejandra
authors: MA
authors: Maglianesi
authors: Vicerrectoría de Investigación, Universidad Estatal a Distancia (UNED), San José, Costa Rica.
authors: Alan Cerqueira
authors: AC
authors: Moura
authors: Center for Macroecology, Evolution and Climate, Natural History Museum of Denmark, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 15, Copenhagen Ø 2100, Denmark.
authors: David
authors: D
authors: Nogués-Bravo
authors: Instituto Federal do Triângulo Mineiro, Campus Uberlândia, Uberlândia, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
authors: Genilda M
authors: GM
authors: Oliveira
authors: Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Federal de Uberlândia -UFU, Uberlândia, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
authors: Paulo E
authors: PE
authors: Oliveira
authors: Departamento de Biología Evolutiva, Instituto de Ecología AC, Carretera antigua aCoatepec 351, El Haya, Xalapa, Veracruz 91070, Mexico.
authors: Juan Francisco
authors: JF
authors: Ornelas
authors: Laboratory of Ornithology, Department of Zoology, ICB, Minas Gerais Federal University, PO Box 486, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais 31270-901, Brazil.
authors: Licléia da Cruz
authors: Lda C
authors: Rodrigues
authors: Grupo de Investigación Biología para la Conservación, Escuela de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Pedagógica y Tecnológica de Colombia, Tunja, Colombia.
authors: Liliana
authors: L
authors: Rosero-Lasprilla
authors: Departamento de Ecologia, Zoologia e Genética, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Capao do Leao, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.
authors: Ana Maria
authors: AM
authors: Rui
authors: Departamento de Biologia Vegetal, Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP), Cx. Postal 6109, Campinas-SP 13083-970, Brazil.
authors: Marlies
authors: M
authors: Sazima
authors: Section for Ecoinformatics and Biodiversity, Department of Bioscience, Aarhus University, Ny Munkegade 114, Aarhus C 8000, Denmark.
authors: Allan
authors: A
authors: Timmermann
authors: Laboratório de Ecologia Vegetal, Departamento de Botânica, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Curitiba, Paraná 81531-980, Brazil.
authors: Isabela Galarda
authors: IG
authors: Varassin
authors: Department of Ecology and Key Laboratory for Earth Surface Processes of the Ministry of Education, Peking University, College of Urban and Environmental Sciences, Beijing 100871, People's Republic of China.
authors: Zhiheng
authors: Z
authors: Wang
authors: Landscape and Biodiversity Research Group, Department of Geographical and Environmental Sciences, University of Northampton, Avenue Campus, St George's Avenue, Northampton NN2 6JD, UK.
authors: Stella
authors: S
authors: Watts
authors: Center for Macroecology, Evolution and Climate, Natural History Museum of Denmark, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 15, Copenhagen Ø 2100, Denmark.
authors: Jon
authors: J
authors: Fjeldså
authors: Section for Ecoinformatics and Biodiversity, Department of Bioscience, Aarhus University, Ny Munkegade 114, Aarhus C 8000, Denmark.
authors: Jens-Christian
authors: JC
authors: Svenning
authors: Center for Macroecology, Evolution and Climate, Natural History Museum of Denmark, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 15, Copenhagen Ø 2100, Denmark Imperial College London, Silwood Park Campus, Ascot, Berkshire SL5 7PY, UK.
authors: Carsten
authors: C
authors: Rahbek
authors: Center for Macroecology, Evolution and Climate, Natural History Museum of Denmark, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 15, Copenhagen Ø 2100, Denmark.
authors: Bo
authors: B
authors: Dalsgaard
mesh_terms: D063147:Animal Distribution; D000818:Animals; D001717:Birds / Q000502:physiology*; D002489:Central America; D002980:Climate; D017753:Ecosystem; D019684:Magnoliopsida / Q000502:physiology*; D009656:North America; D013020:South America; D013559:Symbiosis
keywords: biogeography; climate gradients; macroecology; mutualistic networks; range size; specialization