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Data and R code from: Downscaling species to individual-level networks reveals the importance of population-level processes in mediating generalized community-wide interaction patterns

Data files

Jan 02, 2025 version files 17.65 KB

Abstract

Patterns and consequences of community-wide interactions have been evaluated at the species-level, thus ignoring differences in individual behavior. In plant–pollinator networks, downscaling interactions to the individual level may further help reconcile the high level of generalization related to community stability with the specificity needed for pollination functioning. Here, we built species-level and individual-level networks using pollen loads on individual pollinators collected in a diverse serpentine seep community in Northern California. Plant–pollinator interactions were almost two times more specialized at the individual- compared to the species-level, suggesting a higher level of niche partitioning among individual insects which may increase pollination functioning within the community. However, we observed differences in individual specialization even among generalist pollinator species, which may differentially impact conspecific pollen movement and pollination efficacy despite similar niches at species level. Furthermore, intraspecific trait variation (i.e., body size) did not impact pollinator niche, suggesting that other population-level factors related to resource use may drive plant–pollinator network structure. We did find that female bees are more specialized than males, suggesting that sex-based differences may contribute to variation in individual specialization with potential consequences for community-wide pollination success. Overall, using individual-level networks this study links individual foraging patterns with population-level processes that may scale up to mediate the structure of species-level plant–pollinator networks. In doing so, this study further aids in our understanding of perceived conflicts between specialization and generalization in plant–pollinator communities.