Not all interactions are positive: testing how antagonistic interactions impact the robustness of plant-pollinator networks

by Heather M. Briggs, Carolyn A. Ayers, Paul R. Armsworth, Berry J. Brosi

Network model simulations predict plant populations will be resilient when faced with pollinator extinctions. Importantly, these models are built on the assumption that all interactions in network are positive, potentially overestimating the resilience of plant-pollinator networks. A wide range of studies have shown that many flower visitors are actually ineffective at pollinating plant species they visit, and therefore can have negative consequences for plant reproduction. Here we use trinary (1,0, -1) interaction network simulations to understand how the assumption of all positive interactions impacts the predictions of resilience when plant communities are faced with pollinator species losses. 

Cartoon of  plant-pollinator network

Read the scientific publication in JPE.

 

PLANT-POLLINATOR INTERACTIONS IN EAST ASIA: A REVIEW

by Daichi Funamoto

 
Pollination studies in East Asia have been developing rapidly in recent decades. East Asia may provide important information on many aspects of plant-pollinator interactions because of the rich fauna and flora and highly heterogeneous environments that occur there.
In this review, plant-pollinator interactions in East Asia were summarized. This review specifically highlights the diversity of pollinators and the plants with which they interact in this region. I selected representative papers published on East Asian pollination from 1956 to 2019.

Read the whole summary in: English or Japonais!
Read the scientific publication in JPE.