Morphological traits explain the individual position within resource-consumer networks of a Neotropical marsupial  

作　　者：Nicholas F.de Camargo Hernani F.M.de Oliveira Juliana F.Ribeiro Amabilio J.A.de Camargo Emerson M.Vieira 

机构地区：[1]Laboratorio de Ecologia de Vertebrados,Departamento de Ecologia,Instituto de Ciencias Biologicas,Universidade de Brasilia,CP 04457,Brasilia,DF,70910-900,Brazil [2]Departamento de Zoologia,Setor de Ciencias Biologicas,Universidade Federal do Parana,Avenida Coronel Francisco Heraclito dos Santos100,Curitiba,PR,81531980,Brazil [3]Embrapa Cerrados,Rodovia BR020,km 18,CP 08223,Planaltina,DE,73310-970,Brazil

出　　处：《Current Zoology》2024年第4期453-464,共12页动物学报（英文版）

基　　金：supported by graduated scholarships granted to NFC and JFR,by a Research Productivity Grant(No 308992/2013-0);a research_funding(No 483117/2009-9)granted to EMV,provided by the Brazilian National Council for Scientific and Technological Development(Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Cientifico e Tecnologico-CNPq).

摘　　要：Knowledge regarding the influence of individual traits on interaction patterns in nature can help understand the topological role of individuals within a network of intrapopulation interactions.We tested hypotheses on the relationships between individuals'positions within networks(specialization and centrality)of 4 populations of the mouse opossum Gracilinanus agilis and their traits(i.e.,body length,body condition,tail length relative to body length,sex,reproductive condition,and botfly parasitism)and also seasonal effects in the Brazilian savanna.Individuals with lower body length,better body condition,and relatively shorter tail were more specialized(i.e.,less connected within the network).Individuals were also more specialized and less connected during the warm-wet season.The relationship between individuals'position in the network and body traits,however,was independent of season.We propose that specialization may arise not only as a result of preferred feed-ing strategies by more capable individuals(i.e.,those with better body condition and potentially prone to defend and access high-quality food resources)but alsobecause of morphological constraints.Smaller/younger individuals(consequently with less experience in foraging)and short-tailed individuals(less skilled to explore the vertical strata of the vegetation)would feed only on a subset of the available food resources and consequently become more specialized.Moreover,individuals are more specialized during the warm-wet season because of high competition(population-dense period)and higher ecological opportunities(resource-rich period).Therefore,our study reveals the relevance of individual traits inshaping interactionpatternsandspecialization inpopulations.

关 键 词：bodytraits CENTRALITY CERRADO Gracilinanus agilis SEASONALITY specialization. 

分 类 号：Q95[生物学—动物学]