
doi: 10.1002/eap.2522
pmid: 34918411
AbstractDisruption of plant–pollinator interactions by invasive predators is poorly understood but may pose a critical threat for native ecosystems. In a multiyear field experiment in Hawai'i, we suppressed abundances of globally invasive predators and then observed insect visitation to flowers of six native plant species. Three plant species are federally endangered (Haplostachys haplostachya, Silene lanceolata, Tetramolopium arenarium) and three are common throughout their range (Bidens menziesii, Dubautia linearis, Sida fallax). Insect visitors were primarily generalist pollinators, including taxa that occur worldwide such as solitary bees (e.g., Lasioglossum impavidum), social bees (e.g., Apis mellifera), and syrphid flies (e.g., Allograpta exotica). We found that suppressing invasive rats (Rattus rattus), mice (Mus musculus), ants (Linepithema humile, Tapinoma melanocephalum), and yellowjacket wasps (Vespula pensylvanica) had positive effects on pollinator visitation to plants in 16 of 19 significant predator–pollinator–plant interactions. We found only positive effects of suppressing rats and ants, and both positive and negative effects of suppressing mice and yellowjacket wasps, on the frequency of interactions between pollinators and plants. Model results predicted that predator eradication could increase the frequency of insect visitation to flowering species, in some cases by more than 90%. Previous results from the system showed that these flowering species produced significantly more seed when flowers were allowed to outcross than when flowers were bagged to exclude pollinators, indicating limited autogamy. Our findings highlight the potential benefits of suppression or eradication of invasive rodents, ants, and yellowjackets to reverse pollination disruption, particularly in locations with high numbers of at‐risk plant species or already imperiled pollinator populations.
Veterinary Medicine, 570, Terrestrial and Aquatic Ecology, Epidemiology, Wasps, Flowers, invasive species suppression, invasive predators, Mice, Veterinary Microbiology and Immunobiology, Natural Resources and Conservation, Animals, invasion biology, and Public Health, Pollination, Veterinary Infectious Diseases, Veterinary Preventive Medicine, Ecosystem, 580, Population Biology, Ants, Natural Resources Management and Policy, Life Sciences, Bees, Other Veterinary Medicine, Rats, plant–animal interactions, pollination disruption, Animal Sciences, insect pollinators, Introduced Species, Other Environmental Sciences, Zoology, community ecology, Environmental Sciences
Veterinary Medicine, 570, Terrestrial and Aquatic Ecology, Epidemiology, Wasps, Flowers, invasive species suppression, invasive predators, Mice, Veterinary Microbiology and Immunobiology, Natural Resources and Conservation, Animals, invasion biology, and Public Health, Pollination, Veterinary Infectious Diseases, Veterinary Preventive Medicine, Ecosystem, 580, Population Biology, Ants, Natural Resources Management and Policy, Life Sciences, Bees, Other Veterinary Medicine, Rats, plant–animal interactions, pollination disruption, Animal Sciences, insect pollinators, Introduced Species, Other Environmental Sciences, Zoology, community ecology, Environmental Sciences
| selected citations These citations are derived from selected sources. This is an alternative to the "Influence" indicator, which also reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically). | 15 | |
| popularity This indicator reflects the "current" impact/attention (the "hype") of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network. | Top 10% | |
| influence This indicator reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically). | Average | |
| impulse This indicator reflects the initial momentum of an article directly after its publication, based on the underlying citation network. | Top 10% |
