Data and code: Global and regional ecological boundaries explain abrupt spatial discontinuities in avian frugivory interactions
Cite this dataset
Martins, Lucas P. et al. (2022). Data and code: Global and regional ecological boundaries explain abrupt spatial discontinuities in avian frugivory interactions [Dataset]. Dryad. https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.mcvdnck4d
Abstract
Species interactions can propagate disturbances across space via direct and indirect effects, potentially connecting species at a global scale. However, ecological and biogeographic boundaries may mitigate this spread by demarcating the limits of ecological networks. We tested whether large-scale ecological boundaries (ecoregions and biomes) and human disturbance gradients increase dissimilarity among plant-frugivore networks, while accounting for background spatial and elevational gradients and differences in network sampling. We assessed network dissimilarity patterns over a broad spatial scale, using 196 quantitative avian frugivory networks (encompassing 1,496 plant and 1,004 bird species) distributed across 67 ecoregions, 11 biomes, and 6 continents. We show that dissimilarities in species and interaction composition, but not network structure, are greater across ecoregion and biome boundaries and along different levels of human disturbance. Our findings indicate that biogeographic boundaries delineate the world’s biodiversity of interactions and likely contribute to mitigating the propagation of disturbances at large spatial scales.
Usage notes
Zip-file including the Data and Code necessary for reproducing the analyses from 'Global and regional ecological boundaries explain abrupt spatial discontinuities in avian frugivory interactions'. General Information regarding the data is included as a pdf file in the download.
Funding
University of Canterbury Doctoral Scholarship
The Marsden Fund, Award: UOC1705
Earthwatch Institute and Conservation International for financial support
Carlos Chagas Filho Foundation for Supporting Research in the Rio de Janeiro State – FAPERJ , Award: E-26/200.610/2022
State University of Santa Cruz, Award: Propp-UESC No. 00220.1100.1644/10-2018
Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado da Bahia, Award: 0525/2016
European Research Council, Award: 787638
Swiss National Science Foundation, Award: 173342
ARC SRIEAS, Award: SR200100005
Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Award: PIP 592
Instituto Venezolano de Investigaciones Científicas, Award: Project 898
São Paulo Research Foundation, Award: 2014/01986-0
São Paulo Research Foundation, Award: 2015/15172-7
São Paulo Research Foundation, Award: 2016/18355-8
São Paulo Research Foundation, Award: 2004/00810-3
São Paulo Research Foundation, Award: 2008/10154-7
Brazilian Research Council, Award: 540481/01-7
Brazilian Research Council, Award: 304742/2019-8
Brazilian Research Council, Award: 300970/2015-3
Rufford Small Grants for Nature Conservation, Award: 22426–1
Rufford Small Grants for Nature Conservation, Award: 9163-1
Rufford Small Grants for Nature Conservation, Award: 11042-1
Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, Award: PAK 825/1
Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, Award: FOR 2730
Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, Award: FOR 1246
Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, Award: HE2041/20-1
Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia, Award: CEECIND/00135/2017
Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia, Award: UID/BIA/04004/2020
Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia, Award: CEECIND/02064/2017