Laboratoire de Biométrie et Biologie Évolutive, Université Lyon 1, CNRS, UMR5558, Villeurbanne, France.
GEMA Center for Genomics, Ecology & Environment, Faculty of Interdisciplinary Studies, Universidad Mayor, Huechuraba, Santiago, Chile.
J Anim Ecol. 2020 Jul;89(7):1670-1677. doi: 10.1111/1365-2656.13217. Epub 2020 Apr 11.
Mutualistic networks are highly dynamic, characterized by high temporal turnover of species and interactions. Yet, we have a limited understanding of how the internal structure of these networks and the roles species play in them vary through time. We used 6 years of observation data and a novel statistical method (dynamic stochastic block models) to assess how network structure and species' structural position within the network change throughout subseasons of the flowering season and across years in a quantitative plant-pollinator network from a dryland ecosystem in Argentina. Our analyses revealed a core-periphery structure persistent through subseasons and years. Yet, species structural position as core or peripheral was highly dynamic: virtually all species that were at the core in some subseasons were also peripheral in other subseasons, while many other species always remained peripheral. Our results illuminate our understanding of the dynamics of mutualistic networks and have important implications for ecosystem management and conservation.
互利共生网络具有高度动态性，其物种和相互作用的时间周转率很高。然而，我们对于这些网络的内部结构以及物种在其中所扮演的角色如何随时间变化知之甚少。我们使用了 6 年的观测数据和一种新颖的统计方法（动态随机块模型），来评估在阿根廷干旱生态系统中一个定量的植物-传粉者网络中，网络结构和物种在网络中的结构位置如何随花季的亚季节和年份而变化。我们的分析揭示了贯穿亚季节和年份的核心-边缘结构。然而，物种的结构位置作为核心或边缘是高度动态的：几乎所有在某些亚季节处于核心地位的物种在其他亚季节也处于边缘地位，而许多其他物种则一直处于边缘地位。我们的结果阐明了我们对互利共生网络动态的理解，并对生态系统管理和保护具有重要意义。
