Home Institution
Washington University in St. Louis
Publication Date
Spring 2024
Abstract
As a globally recognized hotspot of biodiversity, the Ecuadorian Chocó Andino region is extremely important for research and conservation. However, little research has been done regarding the mutualistic networks that sustain this ecosystem. The analysis of plant-pollinator networks helps us understand how ecosystems respond to change and is vital to conserving ecological productivity across multiple spatial scales. This study establishes a baseline for pollinator network structure across a land use gradient near the western montane cloud forest in Ecuador. Plants and pollinators were sampled along 11 transects in farms, communities, roads in the Río Manduriacu valley. Weedy herbs dominated overall, with exotic ornamentals playing an important role in the “town” network. Hymenoptera was the most abundant pollinator order in all networks, followed by Lepidoptera and Diptera. Plant richness and pollinator richness showed opposite distributions between the habitats, indicating asymmetry between trophic levels. Connectance was low in all networks, complemented by high levels specialization. The “farm” network was the most nested and most robust to secondary extinctions, indicating more network stability in agricultural areas. Non-native plants generally overperformed native plants for partner diversity, and non-native pollinators were central to network structure. These results indicate that land use has a destabilizing effect on pollinator networks and facilitates invasions of alien plants and pollinators. Although more research is needed to inform specific restoration proposals, this study reveals an urgent need for pollinator habitat enhancement in disturbed areas of the Chocó Andino to protect biodiversity and provide benefits to nearby communities.
Disciplines
Biodiversity | Botany | Entomology | Environmental Indicators and Impact Assessment | Latin American Studies
Recommended Citation
Abrahams, Eric, "Structural Responses to Land Use in Pollination Networks: Effects of Biodiversity and Alien Plants in the Ecuadorian Chocó" (2024). Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection. 3806.
https://digitalcollections.sit.edu/isp_collection/3806
Included in
Biodiversity Commons, Botany Commons, Entomology Commons, Environmental Indicators and Impact Assessment Commons, Latin American Studies Commons
Program Name
Ecuador: Comparative Ecology and Conservation