Mutualism and Dispersal Heterogeneity Shape Stability, Biodiversity, and Structure of Theoretical Plant–Pollinator Meta-Networks
Mutualistic interactions are crucial to the structure and functioning of ecological communities, playing a vital role in maintaining biodiversity amidst environmental perturbations. In studies of meta-networks, which are groups of local networks connected by dispersal, most research has focused on t...
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| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2025-07-01
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| Series: | Plants |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/14/14/2127 |
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| author | Chinenye Assumpta Onyeagoziri Henintsoa Onivola Minoarivelo Cang Hui |
| author_facet | Chinenye Assumpta Onyeagoziri Henintsoa Onivola Minoarivelo Cang Hui |
| author_sort | Chinenye Assumpta Onyeagoziri |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Mutualistic interactions are crucial to the structure and functioning of ecological communities, playing a vital role in maintaining biodiversity amidst environmental perturbations. In studies of meta-networks, which are groups of local networks connected by dispersal, most research has focused on the effect of dispersal on interaction networks of competition and predation, without much attention given to mutualistic interactions. Consequently, the role of different dispersal rates (between local networks and across species) in stability and network structures is not well understood. We present a competition–mutualism model for meta-networks where mutualistic interactions follow a type II functional response, to investigate stability and species abundance dynamics under varying dispersal scenarios. We specifically assess the impact of mutualism and dispersal heterogeneity, both between local networks and across species, on the structure and stability of meta-networks. We find that mutualistic meta-networks exhibit greater stability, higher total abundance, lower species unevenness, and greater nestedness compared to meta-networks with only competition interactions. Although dispersal heterogeneity across species exerts some influence, dispersal heterogeneity between local networks mainly drives the patterns observed: it reduces total abundance, increases unevenness, and diminishes compositional similarity across the meta-network. These results highlight the pivotal role of both mutualism and spatial dispersal structure in shaping ecological networks. Our work advances understanding of how mutualistic interactions and dispersal dynamics interact to influence biodiversity and stability in complex ecosystems. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-77d1fc100dbb453ab7bd68c35255bc71 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2223-7747 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Plants |
| spelling | doaj-art-77d1fc100dbb453ab7bd68c35255bc712025-08-20T03:56:46ZengMDPI AGPlants2223-77472025-07-011414212710.3390/plants14142127Mutualism and Dispersal Heterogeneity Shape Stability, Biodiversity, and Structure of Theoretical Plant–Pollinator Meta-NetworksChinenye Assumpta Onyeagoziri0Henintsoa Onivola Minoarivelo1Cang Hui2African Climate and Development Initiative, University of Cape Town, Cape Town 7701, South AfricaCentre for Invasion Biology, Department of Mathematical Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch 7602, South AfricaCentre for Invasion Biology, Department of Mathematical Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch 7602, South AfricaMutualistic interactions are crucial to the structure and functioning of ecological communities, playing a vital role in maintaining biodiversity amidst environmental perturbations. In studies of meta-networks, which are groups of local networks connected by dispersal, most research has focused on the effect of dispersal on interaction networks of competition and predation, without much attention given to mutualistic interactions. Consequently, the role of different dispersal rates (between local networks and across species) in stability and network structures is not well understood. We present a competition–mutualism model for meta-networks where mutualistic interactions follow a type II functional response, to investigate stability and species abundance dynamics under varying dispersal scenarios. We specifically assess the impact of mutualism and dispersal heterogeneity, both between local networks and across species, on the structure and stability of meta-networks. We find that mutualistic meta-networks exhibit greater stability, higher total abundance, lower species unevenness, and greater nestedness compared to meta-networks with only competition interactions. Although dispersal heterogeneity across species exerts some influence, dispersal heterogeneity between local networks mainly drives the patterns observed: it reduces total abundance, increases unevenness, and diminishes compositional similarity across the meta-network. These results highlight the pivotal role of both mutualism and spatial dispersal structure in shaping ecological networks. Our work advances understanding of how mutualistic interactions and dispersal dynamics interact to influence biodiversity and stability in complex ecosystems.https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/14/14/2127mutualistic interactionsmeta-network dynamicsdispersalstabilityabundanceunevenness |
| spellingShingle | Chinenye Assumpta Onyeagoziri Henintsoa Onivola Minoarivelo Cang Hui Mutualism and Dispersal Heterogeneity Shape Stability, Biodiversity, and Structure of Theoretical Plant–Pollinator Meta-Networks Plants mutualistic interactions meta-network dynamics dispersal stability abundance unevenness |
| title | Mutualism and Dispersal Heterogeneity Shape Stability, Biodiversity, and Structure of Theoretical Plant–Pollinator Meta-Networks |
| title_full | Mutualism and Dispersal Heterogeneity Shape Stability, Biodiversity, and Structure of Theoretical Plant–Pollinator Meta-Networks |
| title_fullStr | Mutualism and Dispersal Heterogeneity Shape Stability, Biodiversity, and Structure of Theoretical Plant–Pollinator Meta-Networks |
| title_full_unstemmed | Mutualism and Dispersal Heterogeneity Shape Stability, Biodiversity, and Structure of Theoretical Plant–Pollinator Meta-Networks |
| title_short | Mutualism and Dispersal Heterogeneity Shape Stability, Biodiversity, and Structure of Theoretical Plant–Pollinator Meta-Networks |
| title_sort | mutualism and dispersal heterogeneity shape stability biodiversity and structure of theoretical plant pollinator meta networks |
| topic | mutualistic interactions meta-network dynamics dispersal stability abundance unevenness |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/14/14/2127 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT chinenyeassumptaonyeagoziri mutualismanddispersalheterogeneityshapestabilitybiodiversityandstructureoftheoreticalplantpollinatormetanetworks AT henintsoaonivolaminoarivelo mutualismanddispersalheterogeneityshapestabilitybiodiversityandstructureoftheoreticalplantpollinatormetanetworks AT canghui mutualismanddispersalheterogeneityshapestabilitybiodiversityandstructureoftheoreticalplantpollinatormetanetworks |