The relationship between species richness of vertebrate mutualists and their food plants in tropical and subtropical communities differs among hemispheres

Article Abstract:

The structure of communities of vertebrate mutualists and their food plants that differ between the New and Old World tropics and subtropics is presented. The geographic differences reflect a greater degree of feeding specialization in plant-visiting vertebrates in the New World than in the Old World, and hemispheric differences in the spatio-temporal predictability of food resources determine levels of dietary specialization and structure in communities of New and Old World plant-visiting vertebrates.

Florida, Food and nutrition, Growth, Nutritional aspects, Regression analysis, Company growth, Nectar

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Do individual branches of immune defence correlate? A comparative case study of scavenging and non-scavenging birds

Article Abstract:

The interspecific variation and correlations between independent measures of immune defense across a phylogenetically broad range of scavenger and non-scavenger bird species are examined. Scavenging species have larger spleens for their body size and higher blood total leukocyte concentrations than non-scavengers.

Phylogeny, Birds, Animal ecology, Ornithology

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Scavenging by vertebrates: behavioral, ecological, and evolutionary perspectives on an important energy transfer pathway in terrestrial ecosystems

Article Abstract:

The factors affecting the evolution of scavenging behavior and morphology are examined. The extent of carrion use by terrestrial vertebrates and the mechanisms governing competition for carrion among terrestrial vertebrates are discussed.

Morphology (Biology), Morphology, Terrestrial ecosystems

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