Data from: A global synthesis of fire effects on pollinators

Aim: Understanding fire effects on pollinators is critical in the context
of fire regime changes and the global pollination crisis. Through a
systematic and quantitative review of the literature we provide the first
global assessment of pollinator responses to fire. We hypothesize that
pollinators increase after fire and during the early postfire succession
stages; however, high fire frequency has the opposite effect, decreasing
pollinators. Location: Terrestrial ecosystems, excluding Antarctica. Time
period: Data collected from 1973 to 2017. Major taxa studied: Insects
(Coleoptera, Diptera, Hymenoptera and Lepidoptera) and a few bird species.
Methods: We first compiled available studies across the globe that
assessed fire effects on pollinator communities. Then, by means of
hierarchical meta-analyses, we evaluated how different fire regime
parameters (fire frequency, postfire time and fire type) and habitat
characteristics affect the abundance and richness of animals that act as
pollinators. We also explored to what extent the responses vary among taxa
groups and life history traits of pollinators (sociality system, nest
location and feeding specialization), and among biomes. Results: The
overall effect size of fire on pollinator abundance and richness across
all studies was positive. Fire effect was especially clear and significant
in early postfire communities, after wildfires, and for Hymenoptera.
Taxonomic resolution influenced fire effects, where only studies at the
species/genus and families levels showed significant effects. The main
exceptions were recurrent fires that showed a negative effect, and
especially wildfire effects on Lepidoptera abundance that showed a
significant negative response. Main conclusions: Pollinators tend to be
promoted after a wildfire event. However, short fire intervals may threat
pollinators, and especially lepidopterans. Given the current fire regime
changes at the global scale, it is imperative to monitor postfire
pollinators across many ecosystems, as our results suggest that fire
regime is critical in determining the dynamics of pollinator communities.