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Data and code from: Habitat loss reshuffles ecological and evolutionary interactions in a seed dispersal network

Bonfim, Fernando César Gonçalves1; Galetti, Mauro2; Rios, Elaine1; Oliveira, Cynthia1; Gama, Milena1; Bona, Ketlen1; Novaes-Pereira, Geanne carla1; Ribeiro, Tiago de Castro2; Cazetta, Eliana1

Published Jun 05, 2026 on Dryad. https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.h1893202h

Data files

Jun 05, 2026 version files 1.77 MB

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Abstract

This dataset includes occurrence data from frugivorous birds that eat Euterpe edulis fruits, traits related to seed dispersal of these species, phylogenetic tree of these frugivores, and R code to perform the analysis of the paper. The data came from published papers, theses, and master's dissertations. The data contains the presence-absence of species that forage on E. edulis in different locations in the Atlantic Forest, traits of these species, such as body mass (g), degree of frugivory (%), beak width (mm), foraging status (%). Also, the data contains the percentage of forest cover at different scales (from 250 to 2000 meters). Using the well-known frugivory system of Euterpe edulis, an emblematic palm species of the Atlantic forest, and its avian frugivores, we investigated how habitat loss influenced both ecological and evolutionary history across 150 forest remnants within the palm’s potential distribution range. Our study showed that landscape-scale forest loss reduces the diversity of birds that interact with Euterpe edulis, including those with distinct evolutionary histories. We showed that each one percent forest loss reduces 50 thousand years of evolutionary distinct interactions in this mutualistic system, while simultaneously reducing their phylogenetic and functional diversity. Specifically, frugivores with large gape size and those that forage on mid-high and canopy strata are negatively affected, whereas ground foraging species are positively affected. These shifts likely reduce the quality of seed dispersal and may compromise plant recruitment. Thus, habitat loss not only simplifies interaction networks but also undermines a key mutualism by selectively eliminating functionally and phylogenetically important partners of E. edulis.