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Structure of plant–Hymenoptera networks in two coastal shrub sites in Mexico

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Abstract

The study of interaction networks between plants and pollinators allows us to explore interaction patterns at the community level, detect changes in visit frequency and evaluate the nestedness of the networks. The latter allows rare plant species to be visited by more abundant species of pollinators, potentially allowing community diversity to be maintained, and this approach makes it possible to discern the rewiring (changes in connections) of species when their preferred resource is not available. In this study, the topology, species identity and rewiring were compared between two contrasting sites, one within a conservation area and the other subjected to continuous disturbance. The networks of both sites were significantly nested and shared a high number of common species of both plants and pollinators. However, the sites differed notably in the number of exclusive interactions, suggesting a high percentage of interaction rewiring. The introduced bee species, Apis mellifera, was the most frequent species at both sites and also the most connected in terms of the number of its interactions. This is explained by its generalist foraging characteristics that allow it to form part of the networks’ core group. In general, our results underscore the importance of knowing the identity of the participating species when studying networks, and how connections change between them, as well as the potential effect of habitat destruction and the role of invasive species in the rearrangement of the interactions; all factors that can exert an influence on the functioning of plant–pollinator networks.

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Acknowledgments

This work was funded by CONACYT (CB2007-84112) and PROMEP CLAVE: 103.5/12/2117. MJCN thanks CONACYT for financial support through a M.Sc. scholarship (Conacyt-334553). We are grateful to Steven Johnson, two anonymous reviewers and to Jorge Navarro and Miguel Munguía for their comments and suggestions. We acknowledge the logistical support of the RLBR and CONANP. D. Fabián, D. Marrufo, L. Díaz, R. Carrillo, A. Monforte, R. Moo, T. Ramírez, U. Solís and L. Salinas provided assistance in the field.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departamento de Ecología Tropical, Campus de Ciencias Biológicas y Agropecuarias, Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán, Km. 15.5 carr. Mérida-Xmatkuil, Apartado Postal 4-116, Itzimná, C.P. 97000, Mérida, Yucatán, Mexico

    María José Campos-Navarrete, Víctor Parra-Tabla & José Ramos-Zapata

  2. Red de Interacciones Multitróficas, Instituto de Ecología A. C., Apartado Postal 63, 91070, Xalapa, Veracruz, Mexico

    Cecilia Díaz-Castelazo

  3. Centro de Investigaciones Regionales “Dr. Hideyo Noguchi”, Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán, Av. Itzaes n. 490 x 59a Centro, Apartado Postal, 97000, Mérida, Yucatán, Mexico

    Enrique Reyes-Novelo

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  1. María José Campos-Navarrete
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  2. Víctor Parra-Tabla
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  3. José Ramos-Zapata
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  4. Cecilia Díaz-Castelazo
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  5. Enrique Reyes-Novelo
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Correspondence to Víctor Parra-Tabla.

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Handling Editor: Steven Johnson.

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Table 3 Plant and pollinator species identities coded for each network (site) and ordered based on the frequency and degree of interaction
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Campos-Navarrete, M.J., Parra-Tabla, V., Ramos-Zapata, J. et al. Structure of plant–Hymenoptera networks in two coastal shrub sites in Mexico. Arthropod-Plant Interactions 7, 607–617 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11829-013-9280-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11829-013-9280-1

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