Soil eutrophication shaped the composition of pollinator assemblages during the past century

• DOI: 10.1111/ecog.04656
• Publication Date: 2019-11-07T11:03:24Z
• Authors: Luísa G. Carvalheiro; Jacobus C. Biesme...; Markus Franzén; Jesús Aguirre‐Gut...; Lucas A. Garibaldi; Aveliina Helm; Denis Michez; Juha Pöyry; Menno Reemer; Oliver Schweiger; Berg Leon van den; Michiel F. Wallis...; William E. Kunin
• Keywords: Deposition

Atmospheric nitrogen deposition and other sources of environmental eutrophication have increased substantially over the past century worldwide, notwithstanding recent declining trends in Europe. Despite recognized susceptibility plants to eutrophication, few studies evaluated how impacts propagate consumers, such as pollinators. Here we aim test if soil contributes temporal dynamics pollinators their larval resources. We used a temporally spatially explicit historical dataset with information on species occurrences more specifically deposition, patterns change plant pollinator richness Netherlands an 80 yr period. focus bees butterflies, two groups for which good knowledge resources that allowed us define different related diet preferences. For each group estimated changes between 20‐yr periods at local, regional national scale, using analytical methods developed analyzing based collection data. Our findings suggest communities higher trophic levels, but time‐lag. Pollinators nitrogen‐related preferences were particularly affected, turn potentially impairing performance pollinator‐dependent plants. Pollinator declines continued even after focal started recover. In addition, our results current levels still negative impact most here analyzed, constraining recoveries accentuating declines. indicate global increase availability plays important role ongoing decline. Consequently, tolerances should be considered across all management plans halt biodiversity loss enhance ecosystems services worldwide.