Linking plant specialization to dependence in interactions for seed set in pollination networks.

ABSTRACT: Studies on pollination networks have provided valuable information on the number, frequency, distribution and identity of interactions between plants and pollinators. However, little is still known on the functional effect of these interactions on plant reproductive success. Information on the extent to which plants depend on such interactions will help to make more realistic predictions of the potential impacts of disturbances on plant-pollinator networks. Plant functional dependence on pollinators (all interactions pooled) can be estimated by comparing seed set with and without pollinators (i.e. bagging flowers to exclude them). Our main goal in this study was thus to determine whether plant dependence on current insect interactions is related to plant specialization in a pollination net

SUBMITTER: Tur C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3813576 | biostudies-literature | 2013

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature