Native and Non-Native Supergeneralist Bee Species Have Different Effects on Plant-Bee Networks

Author(s)

Giannini, Tereza C. ^{[1, 2]} ; Garibaldi, Lucas A. ^{[3, 4]} ; Acosta, Andre L. ^[1] ; Silva, Juliana S. ^[5] ; Maia, Kate P. ^[1] ; Saraiva, Antonio M. ^[6] ; Guimaraes, Jr., Paulo R. ^[1] ; Kleinert, Astrid M. P. ^[1]

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Sao Paulo, Inst Biociencias, Sao Paulo, SP - Brazil

^[2] Inst Tecnol Vale Desenvolvimento Sustentado, Belem, Para - Brazil

^[3] Consejo Nacl Invest Cient & Tecn, San Carlos De Bariloche, Rio Negro - Argentina

^[4] UNRN, Sede Andina, San Carlos De Bariloche, Rio Negro - Argentina

^[5] Inst Fed Educ Ciencia Tecnol Mato Grosso, Cuiaba, Mato Grosso - Brazil

^[6] Univ Sao Paulo, Escola Politecn, Sao Paulo, SP - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: PLoS One; v. 10, n. 9 SEP 10 2015.
• Web of Science Citations: 18

Abstract

Supergeneralists, defined as species that interact with multiple groups of species in ecological networks, can act as important connectors of otherwise disconnected species subsets. In Brazil, there are two supergeneralist bees: the honeybee Apis mellifera, a non-native species, and Trigona spinipes, a native stingless bee. We compared the role of both species and the effect of geographic and local factors on networks by addressing three questions: 1) Do both species have similar abundance and interaction patterns (degree and strength) in plant-bee networks? 2) Are both species equally influential to the network structure (nestedness, connectance, and plant and bee niche overlap)? 3) How are these species affected by geographic (altitude, temperature, precipitation) and local (natural vs. disturbed habitat) factors? We analyzed 21 plant-bee weighted interaction networks, encompassing most of the main biomes in Brazil. We found no significant difference between both species in abundance, in the number of plant species with which each bee species interacts (degree), and in the sum of their dependencies (strength). Structural equation models revealed the effect of A. mellifera and T. spinipes, respectively, on the interaction network pattern (nestedness) and in the similarity in bee's interactive partners (bee niche overlap). It is most likely that the recent invasion of A. mellifera resulted in its rapid settlement inside the core of species that retain the largest number of interactions, resulting in a strong influence on nestedness. However, the long-term interaction between native T. spinipes and other bees most likely has a more direct effect on their interactive behavior. Moreover, temperature negatively affected A. mellifera bees, whereas disturbed habitats positively affected T. spinipes. Conversely, precipitation showed no effect. Being positively (T. spinipes) or indifferently (A. mellifera) affected by disturbed habitats makes these species prone to pollinate plant species in these areas, which are potentially poor in pollinators. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 09/54422-8 - Structure and coevolutionary dynamics in mutualistic networks
• Grantee: Paulo Roberto Guimarães Junior
• Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Young Investigators Grants
• FAPESP's process: 08/06704-1 - Assessment of bee-plant interaction status
• Grantee: Valdo da França Santos
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Technical Training Program - Technical Training
• FAPESP's process: 04/15801-0 - Biodiversity and sustainable use of pollinators, with emphasis on Meliponini bees
• Grantee: Vera Lucia Imperatriz-Fonseca
• Support Opportunities: BIOTA-FAPESP Program - Thematic Grants
• FAPESP's process: 11/12779-7 - Bombus terrestris will reach Brazil? A predictive study about a potential invasion.
• Grantee: André Luis Acosta
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate