Specialization in plant-hummingbird networks is associated with species richness, contemporary precipitation and quaternary climate-change velocity

Specialization in plant-hummingbird networks is associated with species richness, contemporary precipitation and quaternary climate-change velocity [1]

Large-scale geographical patterns of biotic specialization and the underlying drivers are poorly understood, but it is widely believed that climate plays an important role in determining specialization. As climate-driven range dynamics should diminish local adaptations and favor generalization, one hypothesis is that contemporary biotic specialization is determined by the degree of past climatic instability, primarily Quaternary climate-change velocity. Other prominent hypotheses predict that either contemporary climate or species richness affect biotic specialization. To gain insight into geographical patterns of contemporary biotic specialization and its drivers, we use network analysis to determine the degree of specialization in plant-hummingbird mutualistic networks sampled at 31 localities, spanning a wide range of climate regimes across the Americas.

Publication Date:

05/10/2011

Author(s): Bo Dalsgaard [2], Else Magård [3], Jon Fjeldså & et al [4]

Source: PLoS ONE [5]

Vol:

Issue:

pp:

1-7

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