Epizoochory in Parrots as an Overlooked Yet Widespread Plant–Animal Mutualism [PDF]
Plants, 2021 Plant–animal interactions are key to sustaining whole communities and ecosystem function. However, their complexity may limit our understanding of the underlying mechanisms and the species involved.
Dailos Hernández-Brito +11 more
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Mutualism and Antagonism in a Post‐Extinction Hawaiian Bird–Lobelioid Pollination System [PDF]
Ecology and EvolutionExtinction of specialized pollinators can alter the balance between mutualism and antagonism in plant–animal interactions, yet the mechanistic consequences of partner loss remain poorly resolved. We examined plant–bird interactions among three endangered
Samuel B. Case +9 more
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Frugivore richness poorly predicts seed dispersal effectiveness under climate change [PDF]
Scientific ReportsAnimal-mediated seed dispersal underpins forest maintenance, yet climate change threatens this mutualism by reshaping plant-frugivore overlap. Most projections assume that frugivore richness and binary interactions adequately capture seed dispersal ...
Eduardo D. B. Rigacci +3 more
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Genetic tools for transformation of Xyleborus ambrosia beetle fungal symbionts [PDF]
Fungal Biology and BiotechnologyBackground Ambrosia beetles rely on obligate fungal partners for survival, and these associations are emerging as model systems for examining the development and evolution of fungal-animal mutualism.
Ross A. Joseph +2 more
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Integrated Vegetative and Reproductive Traits Reveal Functional Groups and Assembly Mechanisms in a Subtropical Forest Ecotone [PDF]
PlantsIn species-rich forests, the integration of vegetative and reproductive traits defines plant ecological strategies and underpins community assembly. How these trait syndromes assemble into functional groups to facilitate species coexistence in ecotones ...
Chenxing Xu +8 more
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Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution, 2022 Mutualistic interactions are regulated by plant and animal traits, including animal body size and population density. In seed dispersal networks, frugivore body size determines the interaction outcome, and species population density determines ...
Luísa Genes +7 more
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Invasive mutualists erode native pollination webs. [PDF]
PLoS Biology, 2008 Plant-animal mutualisms are characterized by weak or asymmetric mutual dependences between interacting species, a feature that could increase community stability.
Marcelo A Aizen +2 more
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Species-specific seed dispersal in an obligate ant-plant mutualism. [PDF]
PLoS ONE, 2009 Throughout lowland Amazonia, arboreal ants collect seeds of specific plants and cultivate them in nutrient-rich nests, forming diverse yet obligate and species-specific symbioses called Neotropical ant-gardens (AGs).
Elsa Youngsteadt +3 more
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Ecological Impacts of Exotic Species on Native Seed Dispersal Systems: A Systematic Review
Plants, 2023 Exotic species are one of the main threats to biodiversity, leading to alterations in the structure and functioning of natural ecosystems. However, they can sometimes also provide ecological services, such as seed dispersal.
Sebastián Cordero +2 more
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Nectar in Plant–Insect Mutualistic Relationships: From Food Reward to Partner Manipulation
Frontiers in Plant Science, 2018 It has been known for centuries that floral and extra-floral nectar secreted by plants attracts and rewards animals. Extra-floral nectar is involved in so-called indirect defense by attracting animals (generally ants) that prey on herbivores, or by ...
Massimo Nepi +2 more
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