Novel plant–frugivore network on Mauritius is unlikely to compensate for the extinction of seed dispersers

Author:

Heinen Julia H.,Florens F. B. VincentORCID,Baider CláudiaORCID,Hume Julian P.,Kissling W. DanielORCID,Whittaker Robert J.ORCID,Rahbek CarstenORCID,Borregaard Michael K.ORCID

Abstract

AbstractInsular communities are particularly vulnerable to anthropogenic extinctions and introductions. Changes in composition of island frugivore communities may affect seed dispersal within the native plant community, risking ecological shifts and ultimately co-extinction cascades. Introduced species could potentially mitigate these risks by replacing ecological functions of extinct species, but conclusive evidence is lacking. Here, we investigate changes in plant–frugivore interactions involving frugivorous birds, mammals and reptiles in Mauritius, an oceanic island with an exceptionally well-specified frugivore community and well-described species introduction history. We demonstrate substantial losses of binary interaction partnerships (at the species level) resulting from native species extinctions, but also gains of equal numbers of novel interactions with introduced species, potentially supporting the idea that non-native species might compensate for lost seed dispersal. However, closer investigation of animal seed handling behaviour reveals that most interactions with seed dispersers are replaced by ecologically different interactions with seed predators. Therefore, restoration of seed dispersal functionality in this novel plant–frugivore community is unlikely.

Funder

Danmarks Grundforskningsfond

Carlsbergfondet

Volkert van der Willigen Grant 2016

Villum Fonden

Publisher

Springer Science and Business Media LLC

Subject

General Physics and Astronomy,General Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology,General Chemistry,Multidisciplinary

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