Weak phylogenetic signal for specialisation in antagonistic liana–tree networks

Abstract

Background: Antagonistic interactions, such as parasitism and herbivory, are generally specialised and have a strong phylogenetic signal for specialisation. As lianas and trees interact antagonistically, we expect to find phylogenetic signal for specialisation.

Aims: We aimed to answer the following questions: (1) Is the liana–tree network specialised? (2) Is the specialisation of liana–tree network related to the abundance of both the life forms? (3) Is liana and tree specialisation related to species phylogeny? (4) Do phylogenetically related liana species occupy phylogenetically related tree species, and vice versa?

Methods: For three areas in southern Brazil, we calculated the specialisation value of each liana and tree species (d') and of the entire network (H₂′). Binomial regression and null models were used to test the role of abundance on d' and H₂′, respectively. We searched for the presence of phylogenetic signal with phylogenetic independent contrasts for d'. We also compared the similarity of species sets and their interaction with phylogenetic distance between them using Mantel test.

Results: All three networks had significant values of H₂′, but the values of d' did not have significant phylogenetic signals. Closely related lianas did not share similar host-tree assemblages and vice versa. Rare species were more specialised than abundant species, and abundance did not influence H₂′.

Conclusions: Our study indicates that the significant H₂′ may be due to co-evolution in some lineages of lianas and trees. Nevertheless, the abundance of species may also play an important role in species interaction, mainly rare species.

Keywords:

• antagonist interaction
• climber
• ecological network
• generalism
• phorophyte
• vine

Acknowledgements

We thank Monica Martins for reviewing the English. Our data sampling was supported by FAPESP (J.M. and A.L.C.R, Project “Biota Gradiente Funcional”) and CNPq (A.A.R. and V.L.W.).

Additional information

Funding

The data analyses and manuscript preparation were supported by a FAPESP grant [Process number 07/01649-0], given to the first author (J.C.S.) as part of her doctoral thesis in Ecology at Universidade Estadual de Campinas.

Notes on contributors

Julia C. Sfair

Julia Caram Sfair is interested in liana–tree interactions from a community perspective.

André L.C. Rochelle

André Rochelle’s research interests include liana dispersal and its phylogeny.

Andréia A. Rezende

Andréia Alves Rezende is interested in liana communities in seasonal forests.

Juliano van Melis

Juliano van Melis is interested in liana community biology.

Veridiana de L. Weiser

Veridiana de L. Weiser’s research interests include liana community ecology.

Fernando R. Martins

Fernando Roberto Martins is the group leader of liana ecology, and his research has been focusing on liana biogeography and community.