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Phytochemical diversity and seasonality are associated with a critical transition in plant–herbivore network structure.

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Title: Phytochemical diversity and seasonality are associated with a critical transition in plant–herbivore network structure.
Authors: Cosmo, Leandro G.1 (AUTHOR) leandro.giacobellicosmo@uzh.ch, Maia, Kate P.2 (AUTHOR), Guimarães, Paulo R.2 (AUTHOR), Pareja, Martin3 (AUTHOR)
Source: Ecology. Jan2026, Vol. 107 Issue 1, p1-14. 14p.
Subjects: Seasons, Phytochemicals, Ecological integrity, Tropical forests, Insect-plant relationships, Ecological regime shifts, Ecosystem dynamics
Abstract: Understanding critical transitions in ecological systems is fundamental for addressing various natural phenomena, from population outbreaks to sudden ecosystem collapses. Ecological interactions are key drivers of these transitions, and theory suggests that the networks formed by these interactions can undergo their own critical transition. By examining interactions between plant individuals and insect species in a tropical forest, we first identified a critical network structural transition between the rainy and dry seasons. Next, we showed that seasonal changes and the phytochemical diversity of plants are associated with this transition. Finally, we quantified the consequences of the critical transition, which significantly increases the number of pathways and the potential for cascading effects among plants and herbivores in the network. Our findings reveal that ecological networks can experience abrupt changes on shorter timescales than previously recognized, with profound implications for cascading effects and the impacts of human‐induced perturbations on the stability of ecological assemblages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Copyright of Ecology is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
Database: Engineering Source
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  Data: Phytochemical diversity and seasonality are associated with a critical transition in plant–herbivore network structure.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Ecology%22">Ecology</searchLink>. Jan2026, Vol. 107 Issue 1, p1-14. 14p.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Seasons%22">Seasons</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Phytochemicals%22">Phytochemicals</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Ecological+integrity%22">Ecological integrity</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Tropical+forests%22">Tropical forests</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Insect-plant+relationships%22">Insect-plant relationships</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Ecological+regime+shifts%22">Ecological regime shifts</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Ecosystem+dynamics%22">Ecosystem dynamics</searchLink>
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  Data: Understanding critical transitions in ecological systems is fundamental for addressing various natural phenomena, from population outbreaks to sudden ecosystem collapses. Ecological interactions are key drivers of these transitions, and theory suggests that the networks formed by these interactions can undergo their own critical transition. By examining interactions between plant individuals and insect species in a tropical forest, we first identified a critical network structural transition between the rainy and dry seasons. Next, we showed that seasonal changes and the phytochemical diversity of plants are associated with this transition. Finally, we quantified the consequences of the critical transition, which significantly increases the number of pathways and the potential for cascading effects among plants and herbivores in the network. Our findings reveal that ecological networks can experience abrupt changes on shorter timescales than previously recognized, with profound implications for cascading effects and the impacts of human‐induced perturbations on the stability of ecological assemblages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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  Data: <i>Copyright of Ecology is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
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        Value: 10.1002/ecy.70282
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      – Code: eng
        Text: English
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        PageCount: 14
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      – SubjectFull: Seasons
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Phytochemicals
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Ecological integrity
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Tropical forests
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      – SubjectFull: Insect-plant relationships
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      – SubjectFull: Ecological regime shifts
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      – SubjectFull: Ecosystem dynamics
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      – TitleFull: Phytochemical diversity and seasonality are associated with a critical transition in plant–herbivore network structure.
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              Text: Jan2026
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              Y: 2026
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