A general framework for effectiveness concepts in mutualisms

• Published in: Ecology letters Vol. 20; no. 5; pp. 577 - 590
• Main Authors: Schupp, Eugene W., Jordano, Pedro, Gómez, José María, Hille Ris Lambers, Janneke
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01-05-2017
• Subjects: Animals; Bacterial Physiological Phenomena; Dispersal; Ecology; Effectiveness; Fungi - physiology; Models, Theoretical; Mutualism effectiveness; Mycorrhizae; mycorrhizal mutualisms; Plant Physiological Phenomena; Plant protection; plant protection mutualisms; Pollination; pollination mutualisms; rhizobial mutualisms; Seed Dispersal; seed dispersal mutualisms; Symbiosis; pollination mutualisms; plant protection mutualisms; seed dispersal mutualisms; Mutualism effectiveness; mycorrhizal mutualisms; rhizobial mutualisms
• ISSN: 1461-023X; 1461-0248
• DOI: 10.1111/ele.12764

A core interest in studies of mutualistic interactions is the ‘effectiveness’ of mutualists in providing benefits to their partners. In plant‐animal mutualisms it is widely accepted that the total effect of a mutualist on its partner is estimated as (1) a ‘quantity’ component multiplied by (2) a ‘quality’ component, although the meanings of ‘effectiveness,’ ‘quantity,’ and ‘quality’ and which terms are applied to these metrics vary greatly across studies. In addition, a similar quantity × quality = total effect approach has not been applied to other types of mutualisms, although it could be informative. Lastly, when a total effect approach has been applied, it has invariably been from a phytocentric perspective, focussing on the effects of animal mutualists on their plant partner. This lack of a common framework of ‘effectiveness’ of mutualistic interactions limits generalisation and the development of a broader understanding of the ecology and evolution of mutualisms. In this paper, we propose a general framework and demonstrate its utility by applying it to both partners in five different types of mutualisms: pollination, seed dispersal, plant protection, rhizobial, and mycorrhizal mutualisms. We then briefly discuss the flexibility of the framework, potential limitations, and relationship to other approaches.