Temporal development and collapse of an Arctic plant-pollinator network
Abstract Background The temporal dynamics and formation of plant-pollinator networks are difficult to study as it requires detailed observations of how the networks change over time. Understanding the temporal dynamics might provide insight into sustainability and robustness of the networks and how...
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ftbiomed:oai:biomedcentral.com:1472-6785-9-24 2023-05-15T14:55:37+02:00 Temporal development and collapse of an Arctic plant-pollinator network Pradal, Clementine Olesen, Jens M Wiuf, Carsten 2009-12-04 http://www.biomedcentral.com/1472-6785/9/24 en eng BioMed Central Ltd. http://www.biomedcentral.com/1472-6785/9/24 Copyright 2009 Pradal et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. Research article 2009 ftbiomed 2010-01-03T01:09:50Z Abstract Background The temporal dynamics and formation of plant-pollinator networks are difficult to study as it requires detailed observations of how the networks change over time. Understanding the temporal dynamics might provide insight into sustainability and robustness of the networks and how they react to environmental changes, such as global warming. Here we study an Arctic plant-pollinator network in two consecutive years using a simple mathematical model and describe the temporal dynamics (daily assembly and disassembly of links) by random mechanisms. Results We develop a mathematical model with parameters governed by the probabilities for entering, leaving and making connections in the network and demonstrate that A. The dynamics is described by very similar parameters in both years despite a strong turnover in the composition of the pollinator community and different climate conditions, B. There is a drastic change in the temporal behaviour a few days before the end of the season in both years. This change leads to the collapse of the network and does not correlate with weather parameters, C. We estimate that the number of available pollinator species is about 80 species of which 75-80% are observed in each year, D. The network does not reach an equilibrium state (as defined by our model) before the collapse set in and the season is over. Conclusion We have shown that the temporal dynamics of an Arctic plant-pollinator network can be described by a simple mathematical model and that the model allows us to draw biologically interesting conclusions. Our model makes it possible to investigate how the network topology changes with changes in parameter values and might provide means to study the effect of climate on plant-pollinator networks. Article in Journal/Newspaper Arctic Global warming BioMed Central Arctic |
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Open Polar |
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BioMed Central |
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ftbiomed |
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English |
description |
Abstract Background The temporal dynamics and formation of plant-pollinator networks are difficult to study as it requires detailed observations of how the networks change over time. Understanding the temporal dynamics might provide insight into sustainability and robustness of the networks and how they react to environmental changes, such as global warming. Here we study an Arctic plant-pollinator network in two consecutive years using a simple mathematical model and describe the temporal dynamics (daily assembly and disassembly of links) by random mechanisms. Results We develop a mathematical model with parameters governed by the probabilities for entering, leaving and making connections in the network and demonstrate that A. The dynamics is described by very similar parameters in both years despite a strong turnover in the composition of the pollinator community and different climate conditions, B. There is a drastic change in the temporal behaviour a few days before the end of the season in both years. This change leads to the collapse of the network and does not correlate with weather parameters, C. We estimate that the number of available pollinator species is about 80 species of which 75-80% are observed in each year, D. The network does not reach an equilibrium state (as defined by our model) before the collapse set in and the season is over. Conclusion We have shown that the temporal dynamics of an Arctic plant-pollinator network can be described by a simple mathematical model and that the model allows us to draw biologically interesting conclusions. Our model makes it possible to investigate how the network topology changes with changes in parameter values and might provide means to study the effect of climate on plant-pollinator networks. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Pradal, Clementine Olesen, Jens M Wiuf, Carsten |
spellingShingle |
Pradal, Clementine Olesen, Jens M Wiuf, Carsten Temporal development and collapse of an Arctic plant-pollinator network |
author_facet |
Pradal, Clementine Olesen, Jens M Wiuf, Carsten |
author_sort |
Pradal, Clementine |
title |
Temporal development and collapse of an Arctic plant-pollinator network |
title_short |
Temporal development and collapse of an Arctic plant-pollinator network |
title_full |
Temporal development and collapse of an Arctic plant-pollinator network |
title_fullStr |
Temporal development and collapse of an Arctic plant-pollinator network |
title_full_unstemmed |
Temporal development and collapse of an Arctic plant-pollinator network |
title_sort |
temporal development and collapse of an arctic plant-pollinator network |
publisher |
BioMed Central Ltd. |
publishDate |
2009 |
url |
http://www.biomedcentral.com/1472-6785/9/24 |
geographic |
Arctic |
geographic_facet |
Arctic |
genre |
Arctic Global warming |
genre_facet |
Arctic Global warming |
op_relation |
http://www.biomedcentral.com/1472-6785/9/24 |
op_rights |
Copyright 2009 Pradal et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. |
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1766327635286163456 |