Network approaches provide insight into the complex web of interspecific interactions that structure ecological communities. However, because data on the functional outcomes of ecological networks are very rarely available, the effect of network structure on ecosystem functions, such as seed dispersal, is largely unknown. Here, we develop a new approach that is able to link interaction networks to a trait‐based seed–dispersal model to estimate community‐wide seed dispersal distances. We simulated networks, using a niche model based on size‐matching between plants and birds, that varied in the degree of niche partitioning, i.e. the overlap in interaction partners between coexisting species. We found that community‐wide dispersal distances were longest when networks had low degrees of niche partitioning. We further found that dispersal distances of plant species with small fruits peaked in models without niche partitioning, whereas dispersal distances of medium and large‐fruited plants peaked at low degrees of niche partitioning. Our simulations demonstrate that the degree of niche partitioning between species is an important determinant of the ecological functions derived from ecological networks and that simulation approaches can provide new insights into the relationship between the structural and functional components of ecological networks.

中文翻译：

---

社区范围内种子传播的距离在规模结构化网络的低专业化水平达到顶峰

网络方法可洞察构成生态群落的种间相互作用的复杂网络。但是，由于很少有关于生态网络功能成果的数据，因此很大程度上未知网络结构对生态系统功能（如种子传播）的影响。在这里，我们开发了一种新方法，该方法能够将交互网络链接到基于性状的种子传播模型，以估计社区范围内的种子传播距离。我们使用基于植物与鸟类之间大小匹配的生态位模型来模拟网络，生态位模型的生态位分配程度不同，即共存物种之间相互作用伙伴的重叠。我们发现，当网络的生态位分配程度较低时，社区范围内的分散距离最长。我们还发现，在没有生态位分配的模型中，具有小果实的植物物种的扩散距离达到峰值，而中型和大型水果植物的扩散距离在低生态位分配时达到峰值。我们的仿真表明，物种之间的生态位分配程度是生态网络衍生的生态功能的重要决定因素，并且仿真方法可以为生态网络的结构和功能组件之间的关系提供新的见解。