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<p>The honeybee <i>Apis mellifera</i> is one of the most widely introduced species worldwide. While it benefits agriculture, its disruptive effects on native communities are becoming more apparent. Specifically, the presence of <i>A. mellifera</i> can affect ecosystem functionality because of its ability to integrate into plant-pollinator networks (PPNs). However, the short-term impact of increased <i>A. mellifera</i> abundance on network structure and the roles of native pollinators is not well understood. In this study, we examined how <i>A. mellifera</i> abundance affects PPNs across nine coastal dune communities, considering the potential effect of the substantial variation in flowering plant richness and floral density. We found that higher <i>A. mellifera</i> abundance results in greater PPNs nestedness and reduced specialization. The effects of <i>A. mellifera</i> on PPN modularity and niche overlap vary with the richness of flowering plants. Additionally, increased <i>A. mellifera</i> abundance generally enhances network stability (robustness and extinction slopes), but this effect is modulated by the floral environment, with higher floral density further increasing stability and greater flowering plant richness dampening it. At the species level, the results show that <i>A. mellifera</i> diminishes pollinators’ specialization and strength. These effects also depend on flowering plant richness. Interestingly, the impact of <i>A. mellifera</i> varies among insect groups. It increases specialization in hymenopterans but does not affect lepidopterans and dipterans. Overall, our results show the importance of short-term effects of <i>A. mellifera</i> on the structure of PPNs and highlight the importance of the co-flowering context in mediating <i>A. mellifera</i>’s effects.</p>

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Changes in plant-pollinator network structure and individual species network roles across a gradient of Apis mellifera abundance: the importance of considering the floral context

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2025年6月5日

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  • Víctor Parra-Tabla,
  • Alexander Suárez-Mariño,
  • Cristopher Albor,
  • Gerardo Arceo-Gómez

摘要

The honeybee Apis mellifera is one of the most widely introduced species worldwide. While it benefits agriculture, its disruptive effects on native communities are becoming more apparent. Specifically, the presence of A. mellifera can affect ecosystem functionality because of its ability to integrate into plant-pollinator networks (PPNs). However, the short-term impact of increased A. mellifera abundance on network structure and the roles of native pollinators is not well understood. In this study, we examined how A. mellifera abundance affects PPNs across nine coastal dune communities, considering the potential effect of the substantial variation in flowering plant richness and floral density. We found that higher A. mellifera abundance results in greater PPNs nestedness and reduced specialization. The effects of A. mellifera on PPN modularity and niche overlap vary with the richness of flowering plants. Additionally, increased A. mellifera abundance generally enhances network stability (robustness and extinction slopes), but this effect is modulated by the floral environment, with higher floral density further increasing stability and greater flowering plant richness dampening it. At the species level, the results show that A. mellifera diminishes pollinators’ specialization and strength. These effects also depend on flowering plant richness. Interestingly, the impact of A. mellifera varies among insect groups. It increases specialization in hymenopterans but does not affect lepidopterans and dipterans. Overall, our results show the importance of short-term effects of A. mellifera on the structure of PPNs and highlight the importance of the co-flowering context in mediating A. mellifera’s effects.