Hidden effects of habitat restoration on the persistence of pollination networks

Abstract

Past and recent studies have focused on the effects of global change drivers such as species invasions on species extinction. However, as we enter the United Nations Decade of Ecosystem Restoration the aim must switch to understanding how invasive‐species management affects the persistence of the remaining species in a community. Focusing on plant‐pollinator interactions, we test how species persistence is affected by restoration via the removal of invasive plant species. Restoration had a clear positive effect on plant persistence, whereas there was no difference between across treatments for pollinator persistence in the early season, but a clear effect in late season, with higher persistence in unrestored sites. Network structure affected only pollinator persistence, while centrality had a strong positive effect on both plants and pollinators. Our results suggest a hidden effect of invasive plants—although they may compete with native plant species, invasive plants may provide important resources for pollinators, at least in the short term.

Abstract

As we enter the United Nations Decade of Ecosystem Restoration the aim must switch to understanding how invasive‐species management affects the persistence of the remaining species in a community. We found that restoration via the removal of invasive plant species has a clear positive effect on plant persistence, whereas for pollinators persistence was higher in unrestored sites in the late season. Our results highlight that network structure may be a useful tool in restoration studies to assess the impact of restoration practices on population dynamics and emphasize a hidden effect of invasive plants‐‐‐although they may compete with native plant species, invasive plants may provide important resources for pollinators.