Plant-pollinator networks robustness to habitat loss: the influence of plant reproductive systems

• Grant number: 11/09951-2
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• Start date: October 01, 2011
• End date: September 30, 2015
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Ecology - Theoretical Ecology
• Principal Investigator: Paulo Roberto Guimarães Junior
• Grantee: Julia Astegiano
• Host Institution: Instituto de Biociências (IB). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 09/54422-8 - Structure and coevolutionary dynamics in mutualistic networks, AP.JP
• Associated scholarship(s): 12/04941-1 - Robustness of plant-pollinator networks and fragmented landscapes: the role of plant breeding system and dispersal strategy on plant species persistence, BE.EP.PD

Abstract

The pollination service provided by animals is central for seed production in biotically-pollinated plants. Thus, changes in pollinator diversity associated with habitat loss may affect plant reproduction. On the other hand, plant reproductive systems determine the degree of dependence of plant species on pollinators for pollen deposition modulating plant resilience to pollinator extinction. Indeed, plants and pollinators are immersed in complex networks of interactions. The objective of this study is to evaluate how reproductive systems influence plant species persistence in fragmented landscapes and how this modulates the robustness of plant-pollinator networks to habitat loss, by combining mathematical models, empirical data and metrics of interaction networks. This objective will be achieved throughout the evaluation of how plant reproductive systems influence the role of species in empirical plant-pollinator networks. Indeed, we will modify the model for metacommunities in fragmented landscapes proposed by Fortuna & Bascompte (2006) to study species persistence in mutualistic networks. The new model will explicitly include the influence of plant reproductive systems on plant colonization and extinction rates. The dynamics of the model parameterized with empirical data about plant reproductive systems will be compared to that observed in the original model proposed by Fortuna & Bascompte (2006)-i.e. where colonization and extinction rates are assigned at random. This study may contribute to the understanding of how the biological traits of species modulate network robustness to habitat loss. Indeed, the results of this study may act as a theoretical base to planning conservation strategies for a key ecosystem service such as pollination.

Scientific publications

(4)

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

ASTEGIANO, JULIA; SEBASTIAN-GONZALEZ, ESTHER; CASTANHO, CAMILA DE TOLEDO. Unravelling the gender productivity gap in science: a meta-analytical review. ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE, v. 6, n. 6, JUN 2019. (12/04941-1, 13/02819-7, 11/09951-2, 12/09794-7, 11/17968-2)

ASTEGIANO, JULIA; MASSOL, FRANCOIS; VIDAL, MARIANA MORAIS; CHEPTOU, PIERRE-OLIVIER; GUIMARAES, JR., PAULO R.. The Robustness of Plant-Pollinator Assemblages: Linking Plant Interaction Patterns and Sensitivity to Pollinator Loss. PLoS One, v. 10, n. 2, FEB 3 2015. (09/54422-8, 12/04941-1, 10/11633-6, 11/09951-2)

ASTEGIANO, JULIA; ALTERMATT, FLORIAN; MASSOL, FRANCOIS. Disentangling the co-structure of multilayer interaction networks: degree distribution and module composition in two-layer bipartite networks. SCIENTIFIC REPORTS, v. 7, NOV 13 2017. (12/04941-1, 11/09951-2)

DE ANDREAZZI, CECILIA SILIANSKY; ASTEGIANO, JULIA; GUIMARAES, JR., PAULO R.. Coevolution by different functional mechanisms modulates the structure and dynamics of antagonistic and mutualistic networks. OIKOS, v. 129, n. 2, NOV 2019. (11/09951-2, 09/54422-8)