Data from: Landscape simplification shapes pathogen prevalence in plant-pollinator networks

Species interaction networks, which play an important role in determining
pathogen transmission and spread in ecological communities, can shift in
response to agricultural landscape simplification. However, we know
surprisingly little about how landscape simplification-driven changes in
network structure impact epidemiological patterns. Here, we combine
mathematical modeling and data from eleven bipartite plant-pollinator
networks observed along a landscape simplification gradient to elucidate
how changes in network structure shape disease dynamics. Our empirical
data show that landscape simplification reduces pathogen prevalence in bee
communities via increased diet breadth of the dominant species.
Furthermore, our empirical data and theoretical model indicate that
increased connectance reduces the likelihood of a disease outbreak and
decreases variance in prevalence among bee species in the community,
resulting in a dilution effect. Because infectious diseases are implicated
in pollinator declines worldwide, a better understanding of how land use
change impacts species interactions is therefore critical for conserving
pollinator health.