Altered disturbance regimes and the implications for butterfly pollinators
Climate change and the magnitude of human modifications to the environment emphasize the growing need to understand the flexibility of plant–pollinator networks to disturbance events. Fire is a particularly important disturbance in southern California’s sage scrub ecosystems as many native species may be exclusively fire–dependent. The plant communities collectively making up sage scrub, a Mediterranean-like vegetation association, have adapted to periodic fire disturbances. However, increasing development, plant invasions, and human ignitions have caused fires to become more frequent which may impact post-fire recovery of annual forbs and the migratory pollinators that depend on them throughout multiple stages of their life cycle.
Invasive plants are one of the major stressors linked to global pollinator declines. Plant invasions may potentially promote fire frequency resulting in invasive dominance and an invasive plant–fire regime cycle. However, newly invading forbs may not necessarily be adapted to fire and potentially lack an adequate seed bank to promote post-fire recovery.
To address the impacts of disturbances on plant-pollinator networks, I use a combination of 1) field observations, 2) laboratory butterfly rearing, and 3) existing datasets.
Invasive plants are one of the major stressors linked to global pollinator declines. Plant invasions may potentially promote fire frequency resulting in invasive dominance and an invasive plant–fire regime cycle. However, newly invading forbs may not necessarily be adapted to fire and potentially lack an adequate seed bank to promote post-fire recovery.
To address the impacts of disturbances on plant-pollinator networks, I use a combination of 1) field observations, 2) laboratory butterfly rearing, and 3) existing datasets.
Conceptual diagram illustrating the dynamics of disturbance and plant-pollinator interactions. Potential negative dynamics may result in an invasive plant-fire regime cycle, or a positive cycle with occasional fires benefiting native plants and pollinators. Determining the direction and magnitude of fire and invasive plant impacts on plant-pollinator networks will advance our understanding of how communities respond to disturbances.
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