Specialization of plant-pollinator interactions increases with temperature at Mt. Kilimanjaro.

ABSTRACT:

Aim

Species differ in their degree of specialization when interacting with other species, with significant consequences for the function and robustness of ecosystems. In order to better estimate such consequences, we need to improve our understanding of the spatial patterns and drivers of specialization in interaction networks.

Methods

Here, we used the extensive environmental gradient of Mt. Kilimanjaro (Tanzania, East Africa) to study patterns and drivers of specialization, and robustness of plant-pollinator interactions against simulated species extinction with standardized sampling methods. We studied specialization, network robustness and other network indices of 67 quantitative plant-pollinator networks consisting of 268 observational hours and 4,380 plant-pollinator i

SUBMITTER: Classen A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7042760 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature