Network analyses have emerged as a new tool to study frugivory and seed dispersal (FSD) mutualisms
because networks can model and simplify the complexity of multiple community-wide species interactions.
Moreover, network theory suggests that structural properties, such as the presence of highly generalist
species, are linked to the stability of mutualistic communities. However, we still lack empirical validation of
network model predictions. Here we outline new research avenues to connect network models to FSD
processes, and illustrate the challenges and opportunities of this tool with a field study. We hypothesized
that generalist frugivores would be important for forest stability by dispersing seeds into deforested areas
and initiating reforestation.We then constructed a network of plantefrugivore interactions using published
data and identified the most generalist frugivores. To test the importance of generalistswe measured: 1) the
frequency with which frugivores moved between pasture and forest, 2) the bird-generated seed rain under
perches in the pasture, and 3) the perching frequency of birds above seed traps. The generalist frugivores in
the forest networkwere not important for seed dispersal into pastures, and thus for forest recovery, because
the forest network excluded habitat heterogeneities, frugivore behavior, and movements. More research
is needed to develop ways to incorporate relevant FSD processes into network models in order for these
models to be more useful to community ecology and conservation. The network framework can serve to
spark and renew interest in FSD and further our understanding of planteanimal communities.