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<p>The Pantanal, one of the world’s largest tropical wetlands, is defined by its extensive biodiversity and ecological rhythm dictated by seasonal flooding and fire. This biome has a long history of co-evolution with these forces, which are fundamental in structuring vegetation and nutrient cycles. Recently, however, both natural and human-induced fires have intensified in frequency and severity, driven by land-use and climate changes. Rising temperatures and extreme weather events exacerbate these fires, impacting biodiversity and ecological interactions. Climate change also disrupts essential flood pulses, leading to prolonged drier periods. This study investigated how varying fire and flood regimes influence plant-floral visitor interactions in the Pantanal, focusing on network structure and specialization. We sampled 18 experimental blocks with different flooding (low, high) and fire treatments (control, early, modal burn). We documented 263 interactions involving 32 plant and 47 animal species, predominantly flies, bees, and ants. Networks were significantly modular and specialized. Control treatment with high flooding showed exceptionally high specialization and modularity. Conversely, for the medium and early fire treatments, networks under low flooding exhibited greater specialization. Most species were peripheral, except for the key species <i>Mimosa weddelliana</i>, <i>Melochia parvifolia</i>, <i>Richardia grandiflora</i>, a syrphid fly, and <i>Apis mellifera</i>. Interaction dissimilarity was greater between different flooding conditions than between burning periods, indicating that flooding is a stronger environmental filter. That reduces niche partitioning for floral resources, fostering more generalized interactions. Consequently, conserving Pantanal’s biodiversity requires management strategies that acknowledge fire and flood not as isolated threats, but as interconnected, shaping forces of its ecological networks.</p>

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Flood and Fire Dynamics Restructure Floral Visitor Networks in the World’s Largest Tropical Wetland

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2026年1月7日

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  • Camila Silveira Souza,
  • Danielson da Costa Lima,
  • Gudryan J. Barônio,
  • Magno Sá de Souza,
  • Joana Roxinsky Teodoro,
  • Isabella Hevily Silva Torquato,
  • Rogério Rodrigues Faria,
  • Maria Rosângela Sigrist,
  • Geraldo Alves Damasceno-Junior,
  • Camila Aoki

摘要

The Pantanal, one of the world’s largest tropical wetlands, is defined by its extensive biodiversity and ecological rhythm dictated by seasonal flooding and fire. This biome has a long history of co-evolution with these forces, which are fundamental in structuring vegetation and nutrient cycles. Recently, however, both natural and human-induced fires have intensified in frequency and severity, driven by land-use and climate changes. Rising temperatures and extreme weather events exacerbate these fires, impacting biodiversity and ecological interactions. Climate change also disrupts essential flood pulses, leading to prolonged drier periods. This study investigated how varying fire and flood regimes influence plant-floral visitor interactions in the Pantanal, focusing on network structure and specialization. We sampled 18 experimental blocks with different flooding (low, high) and fire treatments (control, early, modal burn). We documented 263 interactions involving 32 plant and 47 animal species, predominantly flies, bees, and ants. Networks were significantly modular and specialized. Control treatment with high flooding showed exceptionally high specialization and modularity. Conversely, for the medium and early fire treatments, networks under low flooding exhibited greater specialization. Most species were peripheral, except for the key species Mimosa weddelliana, Melochia parvifolia, Richardia grandiflora, a syrphid fly, and Apis mellifera. Interaction dissimilarity was greater between different flooding conditions than between burning periods, indicating that flooding is a stronger environmental filter. That reduces niche partitioning for floral resources, fostering more generalized interactions. Consequently, conserving Pantanal’s biodiversity requires management strategies that acknowledge fire and flood not as isolated threats, but as interconnected, shaping forces of its ecological networks.