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Phylogenetic congruence between Neotropical primates and plants is driven by frugivory
Author(s) -
Fuzessy Lisieux,
Silveira Fernando A. O.,
Culot Laurence,
Jordano Pedro,
Verdú Miguel
Publication year - 2022
Publication title -
ecology letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 6.852
H-Index - 265
eISSN - 1461-0248
pISSN - 1461-023X
DOI - 10.1111/ele.13918
Subject(s) - frugivore , biology , phylogenetic tree , generalist and specialist species , evolutionary biology , phylogenetics , ecology , phylogenetic comparative methods , coevolution , convergent evolution , biological dispersal , trait , macroevolution , taxon , population , biochemistry , demography , sociology , habitat , gene , computer science , programming language
Seed dispersal benefits plants and frugivores, and potentially drives co‐evolution, with consequences to diversification evidenced for, e.g., primates. Evidence for macro‐coevolutionary patterns in multi‐specific, plant‐animal mutualisms is scarce, and the mechanisms driving them remain unexplored. We tested for phylogenetic congruences in primate‐plant interactions and showed strong co‐phylogenetic signals across Neotropical forests, suggesting that both primates and plants share evolutionary history. Phylogenetic congruence between Platyrrhini and Angiosperms was driven by the most generalist primates, modulated by their functional traits, interacting with a wide‐range of Angiosperms. Consistently similar eco‐evolutionary dynamics seem to be operating irrespective of local assemblages, since co‐phylogenetic signal emerged independently across three Neotropical regions. Our analysis supports the idea that macroevolutionary, coevolved patterns among interacting mutualistic partners are driven by super‐generalist taxa. Trait convergence among multiple partners within multi‐specific assemblages appears as a mechanism favouring these likely coevolved outcomes.