Pollinating insects form different modules with Malvaceae crops in a global meta-network

This study aims to build a global meta-network of interactions between Malvaceae crops (cocoa, cupuassu, cotton and okra) and their pollinators. The network structure was described by connectivity and modularity, and centrality metrics were used to analyze the role of species. A total of 217 pollinator species was recorded, distributed in four orders. The network has four modules, low connectance (C = 26%) and a high modularity (Q = 0.58). Apis mellifera was the only network connector species. Each crop is pollinated by a very specific group of species, indicating that productivity maintenance may be favored by the conservation of pollinators diversity.