Forbidden versus permitted interactions: Disentangling processes from patterns in ecological network analysis. Issue 14 (13th June 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Strona, Giovanni; Veech, Joseph A.
• Is Part Of: Ecology and evolution. Volume 7:Issue 14(2017:Aug.)
• Page Start: 5476
• Page End: 5481
• Publication Date: 2017-06-13
• Subjects: artificial life -- co‐occurrence -- ecological networks -- food web -- functional traits -- mutualism -- nestedness -- pollinators; Ecology -- Periodicals; Evolution -- Periodicals; 577.05
• DOI: 10.1002/ece3.3102
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2045-7758

Abstract

Abstract: Several studies have identified the tendency for species to share interacting partners as a key property to the functioning and stability of ecological networks. However, assessing this pattern has proved challenging in several regards, such as finding proper metrics to assess node overlap (sharing), and using robust null modeling to disentangle significance from randomness. Here, we bring attention to an additional, largely neglected challenge in assessing species' tendency to share interacting partners. In particular, we discuss and illustrate with two different case studies how identifying the set of "permitted" interactions for a given species (i.e. interactions that are not impeded, e.g. by lack of functional trait compatibility) is paramount to understand the ecological and co‐evolutionary processes at the basis of node overlap and segregation patterns. Abstract : We bring attention to a neglected challenge in assessing species' tendency to share interacting partners. We show how identifying the set of "permitted" interactions for a given species (i.e. not impeded, e.g. by lack of functional trait compatibility) is paramount to understand the ecological and co‐evolutionary processes at the basis of node overlap and segregation patterns.