Network analysis of anthropogenic pollinator declines
Flowering plants are assisted by insect pollinators in producing fruits and seeds, with high-quality pollination increasing seed numbers and fruit sizes. Therefore, the decline of high-quality pollinators such as bumble bees and other wild bees, reported worldwide, is a cause of concern. Because interactions among plants and pollinators are intricate, the ultimate consequences of this trend for ecological diversity and food security are still mostly unclear. In this model-based study utilizing a five-year multi-site record of plant and pollinator observations in North America, I will examine the dynamics of pollination networks. This will help me understand interspecific interactions and analyze correlations between the structural properties of pollination networks and vulnerability indicators derived from how these networks respond to anthropogenic stressors, with the latter including species invasions and species disappearances caused by climate change or human intervention.