Forest structure and heterogeneity increase diversity and alter composition of host–parasitoid networks
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In: Ecological Entomology, Vol. 49, No. 2, 04.2024, p. 257-271.
Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
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TY - JOUR
T1 - Forest structure and heterogeneity increase diversity and alter composition of host–parasitoid networks
AU - Rappa, Nolan J.
AU - Staab, Michael
AU - Ruppert, Laura Sophia
AU - Frey, Julian
AU - Mello, Marco A.R.
AU - Klein, Alexandra Maria
N1 - Publisher Copyright: © 2024 The Authors. Ecological Entomology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Royal Entomological Society.
PY - 2024/4
Y1 - 2024/4
N2 - Antagonistic host–parasitoid interactions can be quantified using bipartite and metanetworks, which have the potential to reveal how habitat structural elements relate to this important ecosystem function. Here, we analysed the host–parasitoid interactions of cavity-nesting bees and wasps, as well as their abundance, diversity and species richness with forest structural elements from 127 forest research plots in southwestern Germany. We found that parasitoid abundance, diversity and species richness all increase with host abundance, a potential mediator between parasitoids and forest structure. Both parasitoid abundance and diversity increased with stand structural complexity, possibly mediated by the abundance of hosts. In addition, parasitoid abundance increased with increasing standing deadwood and herb cover. The bipartite networks of host–parasitoid interactions showed higher connectance with increasing standing deadwood, herb cover and host abundance. Analyses of interactions within the host–parasitoid metanetwork revealed that increasing host abundance and decreasing canopy cover diversify the suites of interactions present at the plot level. These results demonstrate that forest structural elements can improve the stability and resilience of host–parasitoid networks by promoting parasitoids and diversifying interactions in ecological networks.
AB - Antagonistic host–parasitoid interactions can be quantified using bipartite and metanetworks, which have the potential to reveal how habitat structural elements relate to this important ecosystem function. Here, we analysed the host–parasitoid interactions of cavity-nesting bees and wasps, as well as their abundance, diversity and species richness with forest structural elements from 127 forest research plots in southwestern Germany. We found that parasitoid abundance, diversity and species richness all increase with host abundance, a potential mediator between parasitoids and forest structure. Both parasitoid abundance and diversity increased with stand structural complexity, possibly mediated by the abundance of hosts. In addition, parasitoid abundance increased with increasing standing deadwood and herb cover. The bipartite networks of host–parasitoid interactions showed higher connectance with increasing standing deadwood, herb cover and host abundance. Analyses of interactions within the host–parasitoid metanetwork revealed that increasing host abundance and decreasing canopy cover diversify the suites of interactions present at the plot level. These results demonstrate that forest structural elements can improve the stability and resilience of host–parasitoid networks by promoting parasitoids and diversifying interactions in ecological networks.
KW - ecological networks
KW - ecosystem functions
KW - forest conservation
KW - Hymenoptera
KW - remote sensing
KW - Biology
KW - Ecosystems Research
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85182489783&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1111/een.13301
DO - 10.1111/een.13301
M3 - Journal articles
AN - SCOPUS:85182489783
VL - 49
SP - 257
EP - 271
JO - Ecological Entomology
JF - Ecological Entomology
SN - 0307-6946
IS - 2
ER -