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Seed-Dispersal interactions in a fragmented biodiversity hotspot: a metanetwork approach. Bird seed-dispersal (BSD) interactions can function as mobile links to connect fragmented forests by scaling-up from within-fragment networks to a spatial metanetwork linked by shared interactions. We explored the structure of a metanetwork of BSD-interactions from 16 fragments of a biodiversity hotspot, the Atlantic Forest, to test whether a distinct subset of BSD-interactions may mediate connectivity among forest fragments. We found high beta-diversity and turnover of interactions among fragments, forming an interaction-rich, modular and poorly connected metanetwork. Larger, less-disturbed tracts harboured distinct interactions vanishing in smaller-area fragments (10,000 ha) which, in turn, harboured new combinations of interacting species, generating geographic variation across large spatial scales. Potential mobile links constituted a distinct subset of interactions, involving generalist small-bodied bird species and small-seeded, fast-growing plant species. We unveiled specific BSD-interactions as the metanetwork components potentially connecting forest fragments and persisting facing defaunation and fragmentation, possibly leading to long-term changes of forest structure.

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