Relevance of ecological and phylogenetic structure of hummingbird-plant relationships in the face of global climate change

Daniela Remolina-Figueroa, David A. Prieto-Torres, Wesley Dáttilo, Luis G. Quijano-Cuervo, Lorena I. Saldaña-Reyes, Adolfo G. Navarro-Sigüenza, María del Coro Arizmendi Arriaga

Perspectives in Ecology and Conservation |

Abstract

Mutualistic interactions (e.g., pollination) are essential for maintaining biodiversity and ecosystem functioning, yet they are increasingly threatened by global climate change (GCC). In this study, we use species distribution models and range overlap analyses to assess the potential impacts of future GCC on hummingbird-plant co-occurrence networks across Mexico. To do this, we estimated temporal beta diversity to evaluate changes in community composition over time and tested how phylogenetic diversity (PD) relates to network structure—measured as species richness, number of links, and robustness—across space and time. Overall, we observed that GCC could drive important reductions of distribution areas (>10%) in more than 50% of hummingbird and plant species, leading to increased mismatch of their co-distribution patterns and reduced species richness, PD, and plant robustness in hummingbird-plant co-occurrence networks. Within assemblages, hummingbird PD was negatively related to change in hummingbird and plant richness but positively influenced future plant robustness, and plant PD was positively related to niche overlap. Our findings underscore the importance of preserving phylogenetic diversity as a buffer against climate-driven disruptions in species interactions and call for conservation strategies that incorporate multiple dimensions of biodiversity to maintain the integrity of mutualistic networks under GCC.

Cite this article

Daniela Remolina-Figueroa, David A. Prieto-Torres, Wesley Dáttilo, Luis G. Quijano-Cuervo, Lorena I. Saldaña-Reyes, Adolfo G. Navarro-Sigüenza, María del Coro Arizmendi Arriaga. Relevance of ecological and phylogenetic structure of hummingbird-plant relationships in the face of global climate change https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pecon.2026.02.004