Identifying keystone plant resources (KPR) is a contentious issue in ecology and conservation. Despite recent advances provided by mutualistic networks, we still lack studies addressing large‐scale identification of keystone plants. We developed a novel quantitative framework for the large‐scale identification of KPR that combines centrality and effects of simulated removals on networks properties. We built a database with 38 fruit–frugivore networks comprising 6,180 pairwise interactions from Neotropical forest and non‐forest ecosystems ranging from sea level to 2,500 m a.s.l.. Effects of random removal simulations and removal of keystone taxa candidates on nestedness, modularity and niche overlap were assessed. Furthermore, we tested whether changes in network descriptors responded to both latitudinal and elevational gradients. From a total of 373 genera on networks, only species in six genera were ranked as keystone candidates. The simulated removal of species in Miconia (Melastomataceae), Cecropia (Urticaceae) and Byrsonima (Malpighiaceae) led to significant changes in nestedness, modularity and niche overlap, suggesting that these plants play important roles in maintaining the structure of Neotropical fruit–frugivore interaction networks, regardless of latitude or elevation. Our results confirm the keystone role of previously recognized taxa, recognize overlooked ones, providing support for their role at a biogeographical scale, and partially challenge taxa traditionally identified as keystone resources for frugivores. Our study has implications for conservation and restoration of Neotropical ecosystems and provides a new framework for large‐scale identification of keystones in other types of ecological networks.

中文翻译：

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在新热带地区的水果-果蝇互动网络中寻找主要的植物资源

确定主要植物资源（KPR）是生态和保护领域的一个有争议的问题。尽管互惠网络最近取得了进步，但我们仍然缺乏针对大规模鉴定梯形植物的研究。我们为KPR的大规模识别开发了一个新颖的定量框架，该框架结合了中心性和模拟删除对网络属性的影响。我们建立了一个包含38个果蝇-果蝇网络的数据库，该数据库包括从新热带森林和非森林生态系统（从海平面到2500 m asl）的6,180个成对相互作用。评估了随机去除模拟和去除梯形分类群候选物对巢状性，模块性和生态位重叠的影响。此外，我们测试了网络描述符的变化是否同时响应纬度和海拔梯度。在网络上总共373个属中，只有六个属的物种被列为主要候选物种。模拟去除物种Miconia（Melastomataceae），Cecropia（Urticaceae）和Byrsonima（Malpighiaceae）导致巢度，模块性和生态位重叠的显着变化，表明这些植物在维持新热带果实-节食动物相互作用网络的结构方面都发挥着重要作用，而无论纬度或海拔如何。我们的结果证实了先前公认的分类单元的关键作用，认识了被忽视的分类单元，在生物地理范围内为其角色提供了支持，并部分挑战了传统上被认为是节食动物的关键资源的分类单元。我们的研究对新热带生态系统的保护和恢复具有重要意义，并为大规模识别其他类型的生态网络中的基石提供了新的框架。