Understanding linkage rules in plant-pollinator networks by using hierarchical models that incorporate pollinator detectability and plant traits.

ABSTRACT: The analysis of mutualistic networks has become a central tool in answering theoretical and applied questions regarding our understanding of ecological processes. Significant gaps in knowledge do however need to be bridged in order to effectively and accurately be able to describe networks. Main concern are the incorporation of species level information, accounting for sampling limitations and understanding linkage rules. Here I propose a simple method to combine plant pollinator effort-limited sampling with information about plant community to gain understanding of what drives linkage rules, while accounting for possible undetected linkages. I use hierarchical models to estimate the probability of detection of each plant-pollinator interaction in 12 Mediterranean plant-pollinator networks

SUBMITTER: Bartomeus I 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3698228 | biostudies-literature | 2013

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature