Complexity of plant–pollinator interaction networks in East African high‐elevation wetlands

Abstract

For six selected Afromontane wetlands in Volcanoes National Park (VNP), Rwanda, located at varying elevations, we present preliminary insights into the pollination biology of six selected plant species. We found bees and flies to be particularly common flower visitors across plants and wetlands, followed by five species of birds, beetles, butterflies, and moths. We observed no obvious elevational trends in visitation rates, but pollinator specialisation did seem to vary across both plant species and wetlands. We provide insights into a partial pollinator network as a baseline reference for further studies or monitoring efforts of plant–pollinator interaction patterns and processes.

Dominance of non-wetland-dependent pollinators in a plant community in a small natural wetland in Shimane, Japan

“…Studies on wetland pollinators have often been focusing on bees and wasps (e.g. Bartholomew and Prowell 2006 ; Hall and Ascher 2010 ; Moroń et al 2008 ; Pascarella et al 2000 ; Pindar and Raine 2023 ; Purvis et al 2020 ; Stephenson et al 2018 ; Vickruck et al 2019 ), and studies covering pollinator communities of multiple taxa are still limited (but Kato and Miura 1996 ; Mahoro et al 2008 ; Negoro 2004 ; Nkurikiyimana et al 2023 ). However, the previous studies on pollinator communities indicate that flies often dominate as pollinators in wetlands (Kato and Miura 1996 ; Mahoro et al 2008 ), unlike in forests and grasslands where bees are more prevalent (Shinjo et al 2014 ).…”