Investigating fragility in plant-frugivore networks: a case study of the Atlantic Forest in Brazil.

Abstract

Abstract Fragility is defined as the vulnerability of ecological systems to disturbances. This chapter examines the fragility of the largest plant-frugivore network characterized so far: the interactions between vertebrates and fruiting plants in the Parque Estadual Intervales (PEI network), a reserve that is part of one of the last remaining forest blocks of the endangered Atlantic forest in southeastern Brazil. The remainder of the chapter is divided into four sections: (1) plant-animal interactions as networks; (2) investigating fragility; (3) a case study: PEI network; and (4) discussion.