Evolutionary cascades induced by large frugivores.

摘要: Abstract Large, fruit-eating vertebrates have been lost from many of the world’s ecosystems. The ecological consequences this defaunation can be severe, but evolutionary are nearly unknown because it remains unclear whether frugivores exert strong selection on fruit traits. I assessed macroevolution traits in response to variation diversity and size seed-dispersing vertebrates. Across Indo-Malay Archipelago, same plant lineages exposed very different assemblages Phylogenetic analysis >400 species 41 genera five families revealed that average tracks taxonomic functional frugivorous birds mammals. Fruit was 40.2–46.5% smaller Moluccas Sulawesi (respectively), with relatively depauperate mostly small-bodied animals, than Sunda Region (Borneo, Sumatra, Peninsular Malaysia), a highly diverse suite large small animals. color, however, unrelated vertebrate or representation versus mammals frugivore assemblage. Overhunting ubiquitous tropical forests, could strongly alter pressures plants, resulting widespread, although trait-specific, morphologic changes.