Finding NEMO: nestedness engendered by mutualistic organisation in anemonefish and their hosts

Ollerton, J., McCollin, D., Fautin, D. and Allen, G. (2007) Finding NEMO: nestedness engendered by mutualistic organisation in anemonefish and their hosts. Proceedings of the Royal Society Series B. 274(1609), pp. 591-598. 0962-8452.

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Item Type:	Article
Abstract:	The interaction structure of mutualistic relationships, in terms of relative specialization of the partners, is important to understanding their ecology and evolution. Analyses of the mutualistic interaction between anemonefish and their host sea anemones show that the relationship is highly nested in structure, generalist species interacting with one another and specialist species interacting mainly with generalists. This supports the hypothesis that the configuration of mutualistic interactions will tend towards nestedness. In this case, the structure of the interaction is at a much larger scale than previously hypothesized, across more than 180° of longitude and some 60° of latitude, probably owing to the pelagic dispersal capabilities of these species in a marine environment. Additionally, we found weak support for the hypothesis that geographically widespread species should be more generalized in their interactions than species with small ranges. This study extends understanding of the structure of mutualistic relationships into previously unexplored taxonomic and physical realms, and suggests how nestedness analysis can be applied to the conservation of obligate species interactions.
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Amphiprion, Anthozoa, coral reef, mutualism, nestedness theory, Premnas
Subjects:	Q Science > QL Zoology > QL614 Fishes Q Science > QH Natural history > QH540 Ecology > QH549.5 Animal-plant relationships
Creators:	Ollerton, Jeff, McCollin, Duncan, Fautin, Daphne and Allen, Gerald
Publisher:	Royal Society Publishing
Faculties, Divisions and Institutes:	University Faculties, Divisions and Research Centres - OLD > School of Applied Sciences (to 2009) > Environmental Science (to 2009)
Date:	25 February 2007
Date Type:	Publication
Page Range:	pp. 591-598
Journal or Publication Title:	Proceedings of the Royal Society Series B
Volume:	274
Number:	1609
Language:	English
DOI:	https://doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2006.3758
ISSN:	0962-8452
Status:	Published / Disseminated
Refereed:	Yes
URI:	http://nectar.northampton.ac.uk/id/eprint/1149

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