The roles of anurans in antagonistic networks are explained by life-habit and body-size.
Integr Zool
; 17(4): 530-542, 2022 Jul.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-34498374
Interactions among living beings are the structuring basis of ecosystems, and studies of networks allow us to identify the patterns and consistency of such interactions. Antagonistic networks reflect the energy flow of communities, and identifying network structure and the biological aspects that influence its stability is crucial to understanding ecosystem functioning. We used antagonistic anuran interactions-predator-prey and host-parasite-to assess structural patterns and to identify the key anuran species structuring these networks. We tested whether anuran body-size and life-habit are related to their roles in these networks. We collected individuals of 9 species of anurans from an area of the Atlantic Forest in Brazil and identified their prey and helminth parasites. We used network (modularity, specialization, and nestedness) and centrality metrics (degree, closeness, and betweenness) to identify the role of anuran species in both networks. We then evaluated whether anuran body-size or life-habit were related to anuran centrality using generalized linear mixed models. The networks formed specialized interactions in compartments composed by key species from different habits. In our networks, anurans with rheophilic and cryptozoic habit are central in predator-prey networks, and those with larger body size and arboreal and cryptozoic habit in the host-parasite network. This study represents a step towards a better understanding of the influential factors that affect the structure of anuran antagonist networks, as well as to recognize the functioning roles of anuran species.
Palavras-chave
Texto completo:
1
Coleções:
01-internacional
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Ecossistema
/
Helmintos
Tipo de estudo:
Prognostic_studies
Limite:
Animals
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Integr Zool
Ano de publicação:
2022
Tipo de documento:
Article
País de afiliação:
Brasil
País de publicação:
Austrália