Temporal‐ and density‐dependent impacts of an invasive plant on pollinators and pollination services to a native plant

• DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.1233
• Publication Date: 2016-03-01T00:52:34Z
• Authors: Christina R. Herr...; Erik A. Lehnhoff; Laura A. Burkle; Jeffrey L. Little...; Jane M. Mangold
• Keywords: 0106 biological sciences; 15. Life on land; 01 natural sciences

Abstract Pollinators and pollination services are under threat globally, invasive plants have been implicated in their decline. Results of previous studies suggest that consequences invasion for pollinators plant–pollinator interactions context specific. Investigating factors such as the density an plant its phenology may provide a nuanced understanding species impacts. We conducted 2‐yr study Montana to investigate how local pollinator abundance, richness, community composition, visitation patterns varied with C entaura stoebe phenology, whether C. altered reproduction co‐flowering native plant, H eterotheca villosa , through changes visitation. In observational study, we found during peak bloom August, entaurea provided abundant floral resources late‐season pollinators. However, prior bloom, abundance richness these plots were lower compared where was low or absent. Pollinator composition without different (both high density), differences strongly depended on time season. experimental there little evidence competition between H. at relative densities . Using pollen supplementation, observed no limitation seed set increasing experimentally added Our results impact depends timing bloom. Differences over growing season although provides pollinators, displacement indirectly harm active before blooms prefer plants. Based our results, restricting help mitigate negative repercussions even be beneficial some