Specialization in plant–pollinator networks: insights from local-scale interactions in Glenbow Ranch Provincial Park in Alberta, Canada

Plant-pollinator interactions in the grasslands of Glenbow Ranch Provincial Park, Alberta, exhibit high levels of reciprocal specialization driven by biological constraints such as floral symmetry and pollinator traits. These interactions are not randomly distributed but are shaped by morphological or phenological mismatches between species. Landscape degradation alters network topology, shifting from specialized, symmetrical connections in less disturbed sites to generalized hub-and-connector patterns in disturbed areas. While evidence for strong evolutionary dependence among related species was weak, keystone species appear to anchor local specialization. The study integrates network structure, habitat disturbance, and phylogenetic information to provide insights into the resilience of plant-pollinator networks under environmental stress.

Villalobos, S., Sevenello-Montagner, J. M., & Vamosi, J. C. (2019). Specialization in plant–pollinator networks: insights from local-scale interactions in Glenbow Ranch Provincial Park in Alberta, Canada. BMC Ecology, 19(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12898-019-0250-z