Data from: Experimental species removals impact the architecture of pollination networks

Mutualistic networks are key for the creation and maintenance of biodiversity, yet are threatened by global environmental change. Most simulation models assume that network structure remains static after species losses, despite theoretical and empirical reasons to expect dynamic responses. We assessed the effects of experimental single bumblebee species removals on the structure of entire flower visitation networks. We hypothesized that network structure would change following processes linking interspecific competition with dietary niche breadth. We found that single pollinator species losses impact pollination network structure: resource complementarity decreased, while resource overlap increased. Despite marginally increased connectance, fewer plant species were visited after species removals. These changes may have negative functional impacts, as complementarity is important for maintaining biodiversity–ecological functioning relationships and visitation of rare plant species is critical for maintaining diverse plant communities.

互利共生网络（Mutualistic networks）是生物多样性形成与维持的核心支撑，却正受到全球环境变化的严重威胁。尽管已有理论与实证依据表明网络结构会呈现动态响应，但绝大多数模拟模型仍假设物种消失后网络结构保持静态。本研究通过实验移除单一熊蜂物种，评估其对完整访花网络（flower visitation networks）结构的影响。我们提出假说：网络结构将随将种间竞争与食物生态位宽度相关联的过程发生改变。研究结果显示，单一传粉者物种消失会对传粉网络（pollination network）结构产生显著影响：资源互补性下降，而资源重叠度上升。尽管网络连接度（connectance）小幅提升，但物种移除后被访花的植物物种数量有所减少。鉴于资源互补性对维持生物多样性-生态系统功能关系至关重要，且稀有植物物种的访花行为对维持多样植物群落具有关键作用，因此上述变化可能带来负面的生态功能影响。