Super-generalist species in complex ecological networks: forms of interactions and implications
Ecological networks are built through a diverse set of interactions between plants and animals, and are tightly linked to many other ecological processes such as population dynamics, trophic chains, gene flow or responses to environmental changes. These processes influence the functioning and composition of communities in ecosystems, where super-generalist species have a pivotal role, acting as hubs within these networks. Super-generalist species provide support to a wide array of partners within an ecosystem. Using as a model organism the lentisc (Pistacia lentiscus, Anacardiaceae), a super-generalist plant species that dominates the Mediterranean shrubland, we aim to explore the configuration and characteristic features of its interaction network with animal partners that influence its natural regeneration. Pistacia lentiscus can be considered as a foundation species, since it provides abundant fruit food resource to wide array of resident and migratory birds, being at a central position in the structure of Mediterranean lowland shrubland plant-frugivore interaction networks. Many avian species rely heavily on the fleshy fruits of lentisc during autumn and winter, especially migrant species that need to maintain or gain body mass to continue their migration or the over-winter stay. Additionally, lentisc interacts antagonistically with herbivore species and seed predators during the pre-dispersal stage and during the demographic stablishment stages. Fruits can be heavily consumed by other species such rodents, granivorous birds or a wasp (Megastigmus pistaciae). The main objective of my thesis is to understand how super-generalist species arrange their interactions from an individual perspective, understand their strategy, evolutionary success and their implications in the ecosystem functioning.