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The consequences of habitat fragmentation for plant-pollinator mutualisms

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Abstract

There is now considerable evidence for disruption of plant-pollinator mutualisms in fragmented landscapes. The causes can be myriad, and vary from lack of nesting sites for key insect pollinators, to a decline in pollinator visits when plant population sizes are reduced by fragmentation. One important and well-documented consequence of disruption in pollination systems is reduced seed production in plant populations in fragments as a result of pollen-limitation. When reduced seed production, in turn, has a negative effect on seedling recruitment, populations may enter a spiral towards extinction. Some pollination systems, on the other hand, are surprisingly resilient to anthropogenic changes, and pollen flow between trees in fragments separated by several kilometres has been reported recently. Understanding how reproductive attributes of plants, such as breeding systems and specificity of pollination systems, affect the outcome of habitat fragmentation remains a key challenge.

Résumé

Il y a maintenant des preuves importantes de la pertubation des associations mutualistes plantes-pollinisateurs dans les habitats fragmentées. Les causes sont multiples, de l’absence de sites de nidifications pour des insectes pollinisateurs clés à une diminution du nombre de visites des pollinisateurs lorsque la taille des populations de plantes est réduite ou fragmentée. L’une des conséquences importantes et bien documentées de la perturbation des systemes de pollinisation est la diminution de la production de graines dans les populations de plantes des habitats fragmentés due à une faible quantité du pollen. Lorsque la production de graines diminue, elle a un effet négatif sur la régénération des semis et la population peut entrer dans une spirale d’extinction. Certains systèmes de pollinisation, à l’opposé, font preuve d’une adaptation surprenante aux changements anthropogéniques, et des échanges de pollen entre des arbres distants de plusieurs kilomètres ont étté rapportés récemment. Comprendre comment les caracteristiques reproductives des plantes influencent l’évolution de la fragmentation de l’habitat constitue un défi majeur.

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  1. L. Fabienne Harris

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  1. School of Botany and Zoology, University of Natal, P. Bag X01, Scottsville, Pietermaritzburg, 3209, South Africa

    L. Fabienne Harris & Steven D. Johnson

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Harris, L.F., Johnson, S.D. The consequences of habitat fragmentation for plant-pollinator mutualisms. Int J Trop Insect Sci 24, 29–43 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1079/IJT20049

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