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Variation in Plant–Pollinator Network Structure along the Elevational Gradient of the San Francisco Peaks, Arizona

Paige R. Chesshire,Lindsie M. McCabe,Neil S. Cobb

Published 2021 in Insects

ABSTRACT

Simple Summary Comparisons of plant and insect pollinator networks along elevational gradients can help predict future impacts of changing climate on pollinator distribution on local scales. We compare the pollination network structure along the altitudinal gradient of the San Francisco Peaks in Arizona. We evaluate shifts in network connectance, nestedness, modularity, and overall generalization with increased elevation. We conclude that plant–pollinator networks become more nested and generalized with elevation and identify the insect pollinator species most critical for network stability at the higher elevation pollination community. The variation in plant–pollinator network structure at different elevation zones of the San Francisco Peaks helps unveil which local communities currently support the most stable systems in the face of climate change. Abstract The structural patterns comprising bimodal pollination networks can help characterize plant–pollinator systems and the interactions that influence species distribution and diversity over time and space. We compare network organization of three plant–pollinator communities along the altitudinal gradient of the San Francisco Peaks in northern Arizona. We found that pollination networks become more nested, as well as exhibit lower overall network specialization, with increasing elevation. Greater weight of generalist pollinators at higher elevations of the San Francisco Peaks may result in plant–pollinator communities less vulnerable to future species loss due to changing climate or shifts in species distribution. We uncover the critical, more generalized pollinator species likely responsible for higher nestedness and stability at the higher elevation environment. The generalist species most important for network stability may be of the greatest interest for conservation efforts; preservation of the most important links in plant–pollinator networks may help secure the more specialized pollinators and maintain species redundancy in the face of ecological change, such as changing climate.

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