Search

Forest fragmentation is a grave threat to biodiversity. Forests are becoming increasingly fragmented with more than 70% now < 1 km from forest edge. Although much is known about the effects of forest fragmentation on individual species, much less is understood about its effects on species interactions (i.e., mutualisms, antagonisms, etc.). In 2014, a previous meta‐analysis assessed the impacts of forest fragmentation on different species interactions, across 82 studies. We pooled the previous data with data published in the last 10 years (combined total 104 studies and 168 effect sizes). We compared the new set of publications (22 studies and 32 effect sizes) with the old set to evaluate potential changes in species interactions over time given the global increase in fragmentation rates. Mutualisms were more negatively affected by forest fragmentation than antagonisms (p < 0.0001). Edge effects, fragment size, and degradation negatively affected mutualisms, but not antagonisms, a different finding from the original meta‐analysis. Parasitic interactions increased as fragment size decreased (p < 0.0001)—an intriguing result at variance with earlier studies. New publications showed a more negative mean effect size of forest fragmentation on mutualisms than old publications. Although research is still limited for some interactions, we identified an important scientific trend: current research tends to focus on antagonisms. We concluded that forest fragmentation disrupts important species interactions and that this disruption has increased over time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, an extended body of literature has focused on the importance of either temporal or spatial dynamics in shaping the structure of interacting plant and pollinator communities. This improvement from a previously static and aggregated perspective has allowed us to understand many of the ecological processes that shape community assembly. However, fewer are the studies that have simultaneously focused on spatial and temporal dynamics, and even fewer are those that collect data across different habitat types to assess the generality of their findings. Here, we used a dataset collected weekly throughout the full flowering season for two consecutive years and within two contrasting habitat types in N and SW Spain: a mountain grassland area and the understory of sparse pine forests. We evaluated species and interaction persistence through space and time, pollinator fidelity, and turnover patterns in interaction composition while providing a potential mechanistic explanation for the patterns observed. Our results show that although species generalization does not explain species or interaction persistence, moderately generalist species are those showing the greatest fidelity to the subset of plant species they visit through space and time. Further, we find that interaction turnover through time is mostly driven by changes in species composition, while through space it is mostly driven by interaction rewiring resulting from indirect competitive interactions between pollinator species. Our results help to shed light on the potential mechanisms driving community assembly patterns beyond niche or neutral processes by adding within‐trophic‐level interactions that can modify pollinator preferences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agricultural landscapes cover >60% of terrestrial landscapes. While biodiversity conservation and crop productivity have been seen as mutually exclusive options for a long time, recent research suggests that agricultural landscapes represent significant opportunities for biodiversity conservation outside of traditional protected areas.Here, we use a unique dataset that includes annual monitoring of 12,300 permanent 25‐ha plots over two decades across Spain to assess how agricultural landscapes are changing over time. We focus particularly on landscape composition and configuration variables such as the diversity of crops grown within a landscape, average plot size or the cover of natural habitats and assess how changes to these variables affect the ability of agricultural landscapes to ensure high yields.We find potential synergistic strategies that are good for biodiversity conservation and can also lead to increasing crop yields. Specifically, we find that management practices that favour increasing biodiversity values such as maintaining small field sizes and high crop richness values at the landscape scale actually led to the greatest average yield values across 54 crops, 41% of which depend on pollinator activity for reproduction.Policy implications: While our analysis does not factor in economic costs and benefits, we show that synergy scenarios that are good for biodiversity conservation and crop productivity are possible, yet not as widespread as they could be. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Seventy five percent of the world's food crops benefit from insect pollination. Hence, there has been increased interest in how global change drivers impact this critical ecosystem service. Because standardized data on crop pollination are rarely available, we are limited in our capacity to understand the variation in pollination benefits to crop yield, as well as to anticipate changes in this service, develop predictions, and inform management actions. Here, we present CropPol, a dynamic, open, and global database on crop pollination. It contains measurements recorded from 202 crop studies, covering 3,394 field observations, 2,552 yield measurements (i.e., berry mass, number of fruits, and fruit density [kg/ha], among others), and 47,752 insect records from 48 commercial crops distributed around the globe. CropPol comprises 32 of the 87 leading global crops and commodities that are pollinator dependent. Malus domestica is the most represented crop (32 studies), followed by Brassica napus (22 studies), Vaccinium corymbosum (13 studies), and Citrullus lanatus (12 studies). The most abundant pollinator guilds recorded are honey bees (34.22% counts), bumblebees (19.19%), flies other than Syrphidae and Bombyliidae (13.18%), other wild bees (13.13%), beetles (10.97%), Syrphidae (4.87%), and Bombyliidae (0.05%). Locations comprise 34 countries distributed among Europe (76 studies), North America (60), Latin America and the Caribbean (29), Asia (20), Oceania (10), and Africa (7). Sampling spans three decades and is concentrated on 2001–2005 (21 studies), 2006–2010 (40), 2011–2015 (88), and 2016–2020 (50). This is the most comprehensive open global data set on measurements of crop flower visitors, crop pollinators and pollination to date, and we encourage researchers to add more datasets to this database in the future. This data set is released for non‐commercial use only. Credits should be given to this paper (i.e., proper citation), and the products generated with this database should be shared under the same license terms (CC BY‐NC‐SA). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many insect species provide essential pollination services. However, the amount of pollen deposited onto a stigma when visiting a flower ('single visit pollen deposition', SVD) can vary greatly among taxa depending on morphological traits of pollinators. Further, SVD is commonly measured using one of two methods ('static': waiting for an insect to visit a flower present on plant, and 'active': removing the flower and presenting it to a flower visitor) that may also differ in their effectiveness.To gain a more comprehensive understanding of how SVD compares among pollinators, we conducted a hierarchical meta‐analysis using data from 28 studies identified by a systematic review. These contained SVD data for 94 bee and 33 fly taxa (hereafter 'wild pollinators'), across 30 plant species from which we included 127 observations. In the analysis of each study, we used the western honey bee Apis mellifera as a comparator species.Wild pollinators deposited more pollen onto stigmas per single visit than honeybees, and those with larger body deposited significantly more pollen than smaller ones. Of the two methodological approaches to assess SVD, 'static' versus 'active', we found no significant difference regarding the amount of deposited pollen.Synthesis and applications. Our meta‐analysis highlights the breadth of wild pollinators that contribute to pollination effectiveness via their delivery of pollen to many crop and non‐crop plant species. However, just 25% of the observations assessed the amount of pollen deposited by fly species. Our findings point to the need to further quantify the pollination effectiveness of non‐bee pollinators as studies have largely focused on managed and wild bee species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The unwanted development of dense understorey vegetation composed of resource‐acquisitive, tall plant species competing strongly with tree regeneration can pose formidable problems for managers attempting to regenerate temperate forests. Despite many studies on the effects of understorey removal, no comprehensive review has summarised and quantified its effects on subsequent life stages of tree regeneration in temperate forests.We synthesised data from 32 experimental studies from temperate forest regions. We used meta‐analytic techniques to find general patterns in terms of the characteristics of the understorey, overstorey and characteristics of the regenerating tree species, which are most responsible for possible positive understorey removal effects on early life stages of tree regeneration, i.e. emergence, survival and growth.Both seedling survival and growth increased in response to understorey removal; emergence did not show a clear pattern. Seedlings growing free from competition mainly increased their biomass growth (total and above‐ground), whereas diameter and height growth responded less. These positive effects were largest when removing denser understorey vegetation and under more open overstorey conditions. Multiple management options influenced the regeneration responses to understorey removal. For instance, growth of older, planted seedlings responded less to removal, whereas protection against large browsers increased growth responses.Tree species with differing strategies responded differently to understorey removal. Growth and survival responses of early‐successional species responded more strongly to understorey removal than mid‐ or late‐successional tree species.Synthesis and applications. Our study showed that understorey removal can have strong positive effects on tree regeneration across temperate forest contexts. The magnitude of these effects depended on overstorey and understorey conditions, but also on the type of tree species that is regenerated. Our results can support forest managers in their decision‐making and help assess under what conditions understorey removal will be most justified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The management of crops outside the regular cropping calendar can improve profits when supply is low and prices are high, but we do not know how induced, early flowering impacts the pollination services that crops require.This study examines the effects of flowering time and pollinator management, including managed honeybee colonies and ground flower cover, on the pollination of the tropical fruit tree, longan (Dimocarpus longan Lour.), comparing between in‐season flowering (naturally) and off‐season flowering (chemically induced) in Northern Thailand.Visitation rates of flower visitor groups significantly differed among treatments: for in‐season flowering, wild bees were the most frequent pollinator group, whereas in the off‐season flowering, there were no wild bees, and instead dipterans were the most frequent pollinator group. Some off‐season plantations have honeybee hives present and in this situation honeybees were the most frequent pollinator group.We show that temporal variation in the pollinator community significantly alters the pollination efficiency of longan crops. Consequently, longan production from off‐season longan farms generates lower net profit in the absence of managed bees and wild bees, and wild bees produced higher seed‐sets than either honeybees or dipterans.Synthesis and applications. Wild bees were the main pollinator group of longan in the in‐season flowering resulting in high fruit production; whereas in the off‐season flowering honeybees and dipterans were the main pollinator group. Longan production from off‐season longan farms without managed bee produced less net profit. The farmers practicing off‐season with honeybee hives management gain the largest net profit. Developing mechanisms to promote and maintain pollinator abundance and diversity is likely to increase the resilience of the system in addition to profit in the long term; thus, efforts should be made to provide more nesting habitat and reduce pesticide use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Grassland ecosystems are imperiled by agricultural activity world‐wide. Restoring grassland habitat is important to conserving grassland fauna and preserving ecosystem services, but more knowledge is needed on the impact that local and landscape factors have on patterns of diversity. We focused on whether prairie grassland restorations along a gradient of increasing agricultural cover in the surrounding landscape would be inhabited by less diverse and/or more homogenous native bee communities. Native bees are a specific target for many grassland restoration efforts, and supporting their local and β‐diversity in reconstructed habitats is of mounting interest. We also investigated if higher floral resource richness within restorations could help ameliorate negative effects of agricultural landscapes.We sampled 16 prairie restorations in Minnesota (USA) that varied along a gradient of increasing agricultural land cover around the site. We characterized floral resource richness at all sites beginning in mid‐May and ending in mid‐September. We used GLMMs and multivariate analyses to disentangle how floral resource richness and percentage of surrounding land cover in agricultural production are associated with the local and β‐diversity of bee communities.Local bee diversity increased with increasing local floral resource richness, independent of the surrounding landscape. Bee β‐diversity was not impacted by local floral resource richness or percentage of agricultural cover in the surrounding landscape, indicating local and landscape factors are not substantially impacting the homogeneity of bee communities across restorations.Synthesis and applications. We found that, regardless of agricultural cover in the surrounding landscape, more florally rich plantings attract more diverse bee communities. We recommend that habitat plantings prioritize local scale diversity, and that potential sites where the landscape is dominated by agricultural production should not be overlooked for restoration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Applied Ecology is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Tropical dry forests are among the most threatened ecosystems in the world. Rapid loss, degradation and fragmentation of these native ecosystems in a changing climate have driven a time‐sensitive need to improve our understanding and management of remaining dry forests.We used advanced remote sensing technologies, combined with extensive field data and machine learning, to better understand how spatial drivers (e.g. climate, fire, human) of canopy species composition vary in importance and correlate with forest cover (total, native and non‐native), within an endangered Hawaiian tropical dry forest.Past introductions of non‐native, drought‐tolerant tree species into this Hawaiian dry forest have created a new forest canopy composition and a loss of native forest biodiversity and connectivity at the landscape scale.Synthesis and applications. Our findings help to spatially visualize the loss and transition of native Hawaiian forests and provide a new conservation planning tool. Conservation and restoration efforts can now be informed by spatial maps of canopy composition, connectivity and determinants of forest cover for the region. For example, our models identified a climatic transition zone between 800 and 1,000 m where native forests exist in high densities, and non‐native forests are not yet dominant. This area may be optimal for cost‐effective conservation and targeted management. Ecosystems are changing globally at unprecedented rates. The methods presented in this study provide a framework that can be adapted to monitor these changes around the world. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The search for healthy diets has led to a surge in the demand for functional foods or 'superfoods', which have now become popular among the middle‐ and high‐income fractions of the society in developed regions of the world. 'Superfoods' are predominantly consumed far from their centres of origin and out of their cultural context with different environmental and social effects.Here, we present a series of case studies to provide an overview of the different environmental impacts driven by superfood expansion.We show that if these crops are to follow the path of other global commodities, then strong environmental impacts and large carbon footprints are expected in terms of land clearing, use of agrochemicals and transportation during times of high prices (boom) and social problems as farmers have to abandon their livelihoods when prices sink below the cost of production (bust).We also showcase how a combination of management practices, consumer choices and policy changes could help in alleviating the ecological footprint of these crops. A free Plain Language Summary can be found within the Supporting Information of this article. A free Plain Language Summary can be found within the Supporting Information of this article [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Applied Ecology is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Evaluation of conservation incentive programme outcomes is needed to direct future investment, however, monitoring of large‐scale programmes is relatively rare. Research in this area has frequently relied on space‐for‐time substitution or similar designs, rarely controlling for counterfactual trends or potential learning or leakage effects using repeated measures taken before and after intervention at impact and independent control sites.Using a Before‐After‐Control‐Impact (BACI) monitoring design, we investigate the ecological impact of a conservation stewardship programme, where landholders set their own contract price through a reverse auction. In order to maintain or increase species and structural diversity of remnant native vegetation, contracted landholders agreed to manage grazing pressure (from stock and feral animals), control weeds and retain fallen logs. We test whether impact sites (private land under contract) changed over a 9–10 year period relative to control sites (independently managed, non‐contracted private land) and reference sites (public conservation areas).Modest improvements were detected in native plant species richness, log abundance and grazing pressure at impact sites compared with background changes observed at control sites. While log abundance and grazing pressure were directly managed at impact sites, the improvement in native plant species richness was assumed to be influenced by reduction in multiple pressures such as grazing pressure and weed abundance.No significant intervention effects were detected in other variables including regeneration, plant litter cover, weed cover and canopy dieback. However, these variables did show changes over time which were likely due to weather, particularly an extended period of drought followed by unusually high rainfall.Policy implications. This study shows that revealed‐price incentive contracts can produce biodiversity improvement compared with the business‐as‐usual scenario of native vegetation management on private land. The use of a Before‐After‐Control‐Impact monitoring design enabled the separation of treatment effects from background changes such as those linked to climate and weather, demonstrating the importance of this approach for programme evaluation. We recommend the allocation of appropriate resources for monitoring and also highlight the need for the collection of baseline data prior to contract establishment at both impact and independently managed control sites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Applied Ecology is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The effective number of species (ENS) has been proposed as a robust measure of species diversity that overcomes several limitations in terms of both diversity indices and species richness (SR). However, it is not yet clear if ENS improves interpretation and comparison of biodiversity monitoring data, and ultimately resource management decisions.We used simulations of five stream macroinvertebrate assemblages and spatially extensive field data of stream fishes and mussels to show (a) how different ENS formulations respond to stress and (b) how diversity–environment relationships change with values of q, which weight ENS measures by species abundances.Values of ENS derived from whole simulated assemblages with all species weighted equally (true SR) steadily decreased as stress increased, and ENS‐stress relationships became weaker and more different among assemblages with increased weighting.The amount of variation in ENS across the fish and mussel assemblages that was associated with environmental gradients decreased with increasing q.Synthesis and applications. Species diversity is valued by many human societies, which often have policies designed to protect and restore it. Natural resources managers and policy makers may use species richness and diversity indices to describe the status of ecological communities. However, these traditional diversity measures are known subject to limitations that hinder their interpretation and comparability. The effective number of species (ENS) was proposed to overcome the limitations. Unfortunately, our analyses show that ENS does not improve interpretability of how species diversity responds to either stress or natural environmental gradients. Moreover, incorporating the relative abundance of individuals in different species (evenness) into diversity measures as implemented in ENS can actually weaken detection of diversity responses. Natural resources managers and policy makers therefore need to be cautious when interpreting diversity measures, including ENS, whose values are jointly influenced by richness and evenness. We suggest that both researchers and practitioners measure and report three aspects of diversity (species richness, evenness, and composition) separately when assessing and monitoring the diversity of ecological communities. Species diversity is valued by many human societies, which often have policies designed to protect and restore it. Natural resources managers and policy makers may use species richness and diversity indices to describe the status of ecological communities. However, these traditional diversity measures are known subject to limitations that hinder their interpretation and comparability. The effective number of species (ENS) was proposed to overcome the limitations. Unfortunately, our analyses show that ENS does not improve interpretability of how species diversity responds to either stress or natural environmental gradients. Moreover, incorporating the relative abundance of individuals in different species (evenness) into diversity measures as implemented in ENS can actually weaken detection of diversity responses. Natural resources managers and policy makers therefore need to be cautious when interpreting diversity measures, including ENS, whose values are jointly influenced by richness and evenness. We suggest that both researchers and practitioners measure and report three aspects of diversity (species richness, evenness, and composition) separately when assessing and monitoring the diversity of ecological communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Liana cutting is a management practice currently applied to encourage seedling regeneration and tree growth in some logged tropical forests. However, there is limited empirical evidence of its effects on forest demographic rates in Southeast Asia.We used 22 four‐hectare plots in the Sabah Biodiversity Experiment (a reduced impact logging site) enrichment line planted with 16 dipterocarp species to assess the effects of complete liana cutting on tree growth and survival. We compared plots where lianas were only cut along planting lines (standard enrichment line planting) with those with one (2014) or two rounds (2011 and 2014) of complete liana cutting.We found increased seedling growth following the first complete liana cut in 2011 relative to the enrichment line planting, consistent with previous studies. The response after 3 years to the cutting in 2014 depended on whether lianas had been previously cut or not: in twice‐cut plots, seedling growth was not significantly different from the standard enrichment planting controls, whereas growth in plots with only one complete cut in 2014 was significantly slower. Seedling survival decreased through time for both once‐ and twice‐cut liana treatments but remained stable in controls.Sapling growth after the 2014 liana cutting showed a similar pattern to seedling growth, while tree growth following the 2014 liana cutting was significantly lower than controls regardless of whether lianas were cut twice (2011 and 2014) or once (2014).Differences in response between the two rounds of liana cutting were likely due to changes in precipitation—2011 was followed by consistent rainfall while 2014 was followed by two severe droughts within 2 years.Synthesis and applications. Our results generally support the widely reported positive effects of liana cutting on tree growth and survival. However, reduced growth and survival after the 2015/2016 El Niño suggests that drought may temporarily undermine the benefits of liana cutting in logged tropical forests. Managers of similar areas in SE Asia should consider halting liana cutting during El Niño events. In other tropical areas, seedling survival should be monitored to assess to what extent results from SE Asia are transferable. Our results generally support the widely reported positive effects of liana cutting on tree growth and survival. However, reduced growth and survival after the 2015/2016 El Niño suggests that drought may temporarily undermine the benefits of liana cutting in logged tropical forests. Managers of similar areas in SE Asia should consider halting liana cutting during El Niño events. In other tropical areas, seedling survival should be monitored to assess to what extent results from SE Asia are transferable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tropical forests store and sequester large quantities of carbon, mitigating climate change. Lianas (woody vines) are important tropical forest components, most conspicuous in the canopy. Lianas reduce forest carbon uptake and their recent increase may, therefore, limit forest carbon storage with global consequences for climate change. Liana infestation of tree crowns is traditionally assessed from the ground, which is labour intensive and difficult, particularly for upper canopy layers.We used a lightweight unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) to assess liana infestation of tree canopies from above. It was a commercially available quadcopter UAV with an integrated, standard three‐waveband camera to collect aerial image data for 150 ha of tropical forest canopy. By visually interpreting the images, we assessed the degree of liana infestation for 14.15 ha of forest for which ground‐based estimates were collected simultaneously. We compared the UAV liana infestation estimates with those from the ground to determine the validity, strengths, and weaknesses of using UAVs as a new method for assessing liana infestation of tree canopies.Estimates of liana infestation from the UAV correlated strongly with ground‐based surveys at individual tree and plot level, and across multiple forest types and spatial resolutions, improving liana infestation assessment for upper canopy layers. Importantly, UAV‐based surveys, including the image collection, processing, and visual interpretation, were considerably faster and more cost‐efficient than ground‐based surveys.Synthesis and applications. Unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) image data of tree canopies can be easily captured and used to assess liana infestation at least as accurately as traditional ground data. This novel method promotes reproducibility of results and quality control, and enables additional variables to be derived from the image data. It is more cost‐effective, time‐efficient and covers larger geographical extents than traditional ground surveys, enabling more comprehensive monitoring of changes in liana infestation over space and time. This is important for assessing liana impacts on the global carbon balance, and particularly useful for forest management where knowledge of the location and change in liana infestation can be used for tailored, targeted, and effective management of tropical forests for enhanced carbon sequestration (e.g., REDD+ projects), timber concessions, and forest restoration. Unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) image data of tree canopies can be easily captured and used to assess liana infestation at least as accurately as traditional ground data. This novel method promotes reproducibility of results and quality control, and enables additional variables to be derived from the image data. It is more cost‐effective, time‐efficient and covers larger geographical extents than traditional ground surveys, enabling more comprehensive monitoring of changes in liana infestation over space and time. This is important for assessing liana impacts on the global carbon balance, and particularly useful for forest management where knowledge of the location and change in liana infestation can be used for tailored, targeted, and effective management of tropical forests for enhanced carbon sequestration (e.g., REDD+ projects), timber concessions, and forest restoration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The relative importance of bottom‐up versus top‐down control of population dynamics has been the focus of much debate. In infectious disease biology, research is typically focused on the bottom‐up process of host resistance, wherein the direction of control flows from the lower to the higher trophic level to impact on pathogen population size and epidemiology. However, the importance of top‐down control by a pathogen's natural enemies has been mostly overlooked.Here, we explore the effects of, and interaction between, host genotype (i.e., genetic susceptibility to pathogen infection) and infection by a hyperparasitic fungus, Ampelomyces spp., on the establishment and early epidemic growth and transmission of a powdery mildew plant pathogen (Podosphaera plantaginis). We used a semi‐natural field experiment to contrast the impacts of hyperparasite infection, host‐plant resistance and spatial structure to reveal the key factors that determine pathogen spread. We then used a laboratory‐based inoculation approach to test whether the field experiment results hold across multiple pathogen–host genetic combinations and to explore hyperparasite effects on the pathogen's later life‐history stages.We found that hyperparasite infection had a negligible effect on within‐host infection development and between‐host spread of the pathogen during the onset of epidemics. In contrast, host‐plant resistance was the major determinant of whether plants became infected, and host genotype and proximity to an infection source determined infection severity.Our laboratory study showed that, while the interaction between host and pathogen genotypes was the key determinant of infection outcome, hyperparasitism did, on average, reduce the severity of infection. Moreover, hyperparasite infection negatively influenced the production of the pathogen's overwintering structures.Synthesis and applications. Our results suggest that bottom‐up host resistance affects pathogen spread, but top‐down control of powdery mildew pathogens is likely more effective against later life‐history stages. Further, while hyperparasitism in this system can reduce early pathogen growth under stable laboratory conditions, this effect is not detectable in a semi‐natural environment. Considering the effects of hyperparasites at multiple points in pathogen's life history will be important when considering hyperparasite‐derived biocontrol measures in other natural and agricultural systems. Our results suggest that bottom‐up host resistance affects pathogen spread, but top‐down control of powdery mildew pathogens is likely more effective against later life‐history stages. Further, while hyperparasitism in this system can reduce early pathogen growth under stable laboratory conditions, this effect is not detectable in a semi‐natural environment. Considering the effects of hyperparasites at multiple points in pathogen's life history will be important when considering hyperparasite‐derived biocontrol measures in other natural and agricultural systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Closed‐canopy forests are being rapidly fragmented across much of the tropical world. Determining the impacts of fragmentation on ecological processes enables better forest management and improves species‐conservation outcomes. Lianas are an integral part of tropical forests but can have detrimental and potentially complex interactions with their host trees. These effects can include reduced tree growth and fecundity, elevated tree mortality, alterations in tree‐species composition, degradation of forest succession, and a substantial decline in forest carbon storage. We examined the individual impacts of fragmentation and edge effects (0–100‐m transect from edge to forest interior) on the liana community and liana–host tree interactions in rainforests of the Atherton Tableland in north Queensland, Australia. We compared the liana and tree community, the traits of liana‐infested trees, and determinants of the rates of tree infestation within five forest fragments (23–58 ha in area) and five nearby intact‐forest sites. Fragmented forests experienced considerable disturbance‐induced degradation at their edges, resulting in a significant increase in liana abundance. This effect penetrated to significantly greater depths in forest fragments than in intact forests. The composition of the liana community in terms of climbing guilds was significantly different between fragmented and intact forests, likely because forest edges had more small‐sized trees favoring particular liana guilds which preferentially use these for climbing trellises. Sites that had higher liana abundances also exhibited higher infestation rates of trees, as did sites with the largest lianas. However, large lianas were associated with low‐disturbance forest sites. Our study shows that edge disturbance of forest fragments significantly altered the abundance and community composition of lianas and their ecological relationships with trees, with liana impacts on trees being elevated in fragments relative to intact forests. Consequently, effective control of lianas in forest fragments requires management practices which directly focus on minimizing forest edge disturbance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To contribute to the aspirations of recent international biodiversity conventions, protected areas (PAs) must be strategically located and not simply established on economically marginal lands as they have in the past. With refined international commitments under the Convention on Biological Diversity to target protected areas in places of 'importance to biodiversity,' perhaps they may now be. We analyzed location biases in PAs globally over historic (pre-2004) and recent periods. Specifically, we examined whether the location of protected areas are more closely associated with high concentrations of threatened vertebrate species or with areas of low agricultural opportunity costs. We found that both old and new protected areas did not target places with high concentrations of threatened vertebrate species. Instead, they appeared to be established in locations that minimize conflict with agriculturally suitable lands. This entrenchment of past trends has substantial implications for the contributions these protected areas are making to international commitments to conserve biodiversity. If protected-area growth from 2004 to 2014 had strategically targeted unrepresented threatened vertebrates, >30 times more species (3086 or 2553 potential vs. 85 actual new species represented) would have been protected for the same area or the same cost as the actual expansion. With the land available for conservation declining, nations must urgently focus new protection on places that provide for the conservation outcomes outlined in international treaties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mass-flowering crops lead to spatial redistributions of pollinators and to transient shortages within nearby semi-natural grasslands, but the impacts on plant-pollinator interactions remain largely unexplored. Here, we characterised which pollinator species are attracted by oilseed rape and how this affected the structure of plant-pollinator networks in nearby grasslands. We surveyed 177 networks from three countries (Germany, Sweden and United Kingdom) in 24 landscapes with high crop cover, and compared them to 24 landscapes with low or no oilseed rape during and after crop blooming. On average 55% of grassland pollinator species were found on the crop, which attracted 8-35% of individuals away from grasslands. However, networks in the grasslands were resistant to these reductions, since mainly abundant and highly mobile species were attracted. Nonetheless, simulations indicated that network structural changes could be triggered if > 50% of individuals were attracted to the crop (a value well-above that found in our study system), which could affect community stability and resilience to further disturbance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tropical forests are critical for protecting global biodiversity and carbon stores. While forest degradation and fragmentation cause negative impacts on trees, many woody lianas benefit, with associated negative effects on carbon storage. Here, we focus on the key question of how abiotic environmental changes resulting from tropical forest fragmentation mediate the allocation of carbon into trees and lianas., We focus on the globally threatened Brazilian Atlantic Forest, in forest fragments spanning 13-23 442 ha in area and at fragment edges and interiors. Within each fragment, we established two transects: one at the edge and one in the interior. Each transect consisted of ten 10 × 10 m plots spaced at 20 m intervals. Within each plot, we sampled living trees with diameter ≥4·8 cm at 1·3 m above ground, living lianas with diameter ≥1·6 cm at 10 cm above ground, and several microclimatic and soil variables., Fragmentation changed a broad suite of abiotic environmental conditions recognized as being associated with forest carbon stocks: edges and smaller fragments were hotter, windier, and less humid, with more fertile and less acid soils at edges. Tree carbon stocks were thus higher in forest interiors than at edges, and were positively related to fragment size in interiors, but were not impacted by fragment size at edges., Trees and lianas showed different responses to fragmentation: in interiors of small fragments, tree carbon stocks declined whereas liana carbon stocks increased; and at edges, tree carbon stocks were not affected by fragment size, whereas liana carbon stocks were highest in smaller fragments. These patterns were strongly related to changes in abiotic environmental conditions., We conclude that the abiotic changes across the fragmentation gradient, rather than liana proliferation, were more likely to reduce tree carbon stocks. Cutting of lianas is frequently promoted for restoring forest carbon in human-modified tropical forests. However, this approach may not be effective for restoring forest carbon stocks in fragmented forests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Species interactions define functional diversity and community stability across ecosystems, and depend on the spatial distribution, the habitat requirements and the sensitivity to disturbances of all interacting partners. Hence, assessing the effects of such anthropogenic disturbances on multi-species interactions may be essential to improve adaptation and mitigation measures for biodiversity conservation., We determined the importance of edge effects on the interaction and distribution of three keystone species in South American temperate rain forests: the hemiparasitic mistletoe Tristerix corymbosus, its main host (the liana Campsidium valdivianum) and its only seed disperser (the marsupial Dromiciops gliroides)., The discordant impacts of forest edges on host (positive) and seed disperser (negative) affected mistletoe distribution at large spatial scales, owing to the combined effects of increased dispersal limitation and decreased host availability. More importantly, marsupial abundance had contrasting effects on mistletoe abundance at small and large spatial scales - suggesting a potential trade-off between local and long-distance dispersal., We found the number of adult mistletoes per host increased with host size, which likely indicates that mistletoe colonization accumulated over the host's lifespan. However, the number of juveniles found per host peaked at medium-sized hosts, increased with marsupial abundance and host availability and showed a negligible response to edges., Synthesis. The lack of spatial congruence between host and seed disperser probably explains the scarcity of mistletoes in the study area, although the discordant drivers of juvenile and adult distributions suggest that there is a trade-off between recruitment patterns but also potential dispersal limitation at small scales. In essence, the interdependence amongst species linked by (mutualistic and antagonistic) interactions makes them more sensitive to anthropogenic disturbance, exacerbating its impact on the diversity and functioning of forest ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tropical forests store vast amounts of carbon and are the most biodiverse terrestrial habitats, yet they are being converted and degraded at alarming rates. Given global shortfalls in the budgets required to prevent carbon and biodiversity loss, we need to seek solutions that simultaneously address both issues. Of particular interest are carbonbased payments under the Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD+) mechanism to also conserve biodiversity at no additional cost. One potential is for REDD+ to protect forest fragments, especially within biomes where contiguous forest cover has diminished dramatically, but we require empirical tests of the strength of any carbon and biodiversity cobenefits in such fragmented systems. Using the globally threatened Atlantic Forest landscape, we measured above-ground carbon stocks within forest fragments spanning 13 to 23 442 ha in area and with different degrees of isolation. We related these stocks to tree community structure and to the richness and abundance of endemic and IUCN Red-listed species. We found that increasing fragment size has a positive relationship with above-ground carbon stock and with abundance of IUCN Red-listed species and tree community structure. We also found negative relationships between distance from large forest block and tree community structure, endemic species richness and abundance, and IUCN Red-listed species abundance. These resulted in positive congruence between carbon stocks and Red-listed species, and the abundance and richness of endemic species, demonstrating vital cobenefits. As such, protecting forest fragments in hotspots of biodiversity, particularly larger fragments and those closest to sources, offers important carbon and biodiversity cobenefits. More generally, our results suggest that macroscale models of cobenefits under REDD+ have likely overlooked key benefits at small scales, indicating the necessity to apply models that include finer-grained assessments in fragmented landscapes rather than using averaged coarse-grained cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Strong global demand for tropical timber and agricultural products has driven large-scale logging and subsequent conversion of tropical forests. Given that the majority of tropical landscapes have been or will likely be logged, the protection of biodiversity within tropical forests thus depends on whether species can persist in these economically exploited lands, and if species cannot persist, whether we can protect enough primary forest from logging and conversion. However, our knowledge of the impact of logging and conversion on biodiversity is limited to a few taxa, often sampled in different locations with complex land-use histories, hampering attempts to plan cost-effective conservation strategies and to draw conclusions across taxa. Spanning a land-use gradient of primary forest, once- and twice-logged forests, and oil palm plantations, we used traditional sampling and DNA metabarcoding to compile an extensive data set in Sabah, Malaysian Borneo for nine vertebrate and invertebrate taxa to quantify the biological impacts of logging and oil palm, develop cost-effective methods of protecting biodiversity, and examine whether there is congruence in response among taxa. Logged forests retained high species richness, including, on average, 10% of species found in primary forest. In contrast, conversion to oil palm dramatically reduces species richness, with significantly fewer primary-forest species than found on logged forest transects for seven taxa. Using a systematic conservation planning analysis, we show that efficient protection of primary-forest species is achieved with land portfolios that include a large proportion of logged-forest plots. Protecting logged forests is thus a cost-effective method of protecting an ecologically and taxonomically diverse range of species, particularly when conservation budgets are limited. Six indicator groups (birds, leaf-litter ants, beetles, aerial hymenopterans, flies, and true bugs) proved to be consistently good predictors of the response of the other taxa to logging and oil palm. our results confidently establish the high conservation value of logged forests and the low value of oil palm. Cross-taxon congruence in responses to disturbance also suggests that the practice of focusing on key indicator taxa yields important information of general biodiversity in studies of logging and oil palm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many contemporary ecosystems are likely to be affected by multiple environmental drivers, complicating efforts to predict future changes in those ecosystems. We studied long-term changes (1980-2012) in forest dynamics and liana (woody vine) abundance and biomass in fragmented and intact forests of the central Amazon. We did so by contrasting trends in 33 permanent 1-ha plots near forest edges (plot center <100 m from the nearest edge) with those in 361-ha plots in intact-forest interiors (150-3300 m from nearest edge). In fragmented and edge-affected forests, rates of tree (≥10 cm diameter at breast height) mortality and recruitment were often sharply elevated, especially in the first 10-15 years after fragmentation. Lianas (≥2 cm stem diameter) also increased markedly in abundance (mean ± SD =1.78 ± 1.23% per yr) and biomass (1.30 ± 1.39% per yr) over time, especially in plots with high edge-related tree mortality. However, plots in undisturbed forest interiors, which were originally established as experimental controls, also experienced long-term changes. In these plots, tree mortality and recruitment rose significantly over time, as did liana abundance (1.00 ± 0.88% per yr) and biomass (0.32 ± 1.37% per yr). These changes were smaller in magnitude than those in fragments but were nonetheless concerted in nature and highly statistically significant. The causes of these changes in forest interiors are unknown, but are broadly consistent with those expected from rising atmospheric CO2 or regional climate drivers that influence forest dynamics. Hence, the dynamics of Amazonian forest fragments cannot be understood simply as a consequence of forest fragmentation. Rather, the changes we observed appear to arise from an interaction of fragmentation with one or more global- or regional-scale drivers affecting forest dynamics. Both sets of phenomena are evidently increasing forest dynamics and liana abundances in fragmented forests, changes that could reduce carbon storage and alter many aspects of forest ecology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Forest fragmentation dramatically alters species persistence and distribution and affects many ecological interactions among species. Recent studies suggest that mutualisms, such as pollination and seed dispersal, are more sensitive to the negative effects of forest fragmentation than antagonisms, such as predation or herbivory. We applied meta-analytical techniques to evaluate this hypothesis and quantified the relative contributions of different components of the fragmentation process (decreases in fragment size, edge effects, increased isolation, and habitat degradation) to the overall effect. The effects of fragmentation on mutualisms were primarily driven by habitat degradation, edge effects, and fragment isolation, and, as predicted, they were consistently more negative on mutualisms than on antagonisms. For the most studied interaction type, seed dispersal, only certain components of fragmentation had significant (edge effects) or marginally significant (fragment size) effects. Seed size modulated the effect of fragmentation: species with large seeds showed stronger negative impacts of fragmentation via reduced dispersal rates. Our results reveal that different components of the habitat fragmentation process have varying impacts on key mutualisms. We also conclude that antagonistic interactions have been understudied in fragmented landscapes, most of the research has concentrated on particular types of mutualistic interactions such as seed dispersal, and that available studies of interspecific interactions have a strong geographical bias (arising mostly from studies carried out in Brazil, Chile, and the United States). Meta-Análisis de los Efectos de la Fragmentación del Bosque sobre las Interacciones Interespecíficas [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Question In fragmented forests, edge effects lead to changes in the distribution of plant species. In particular, tropical forest edges are increasingly dominated by lianas. Will this increase in lianas lead to changes in their interactions with other plant morphological groups? If so, will this alter the local distributions and abundance of other species? Location Plots located at increasing distances from the nearest forest edge and in remnant fragments of rain forest in the Atherton Tablelands, far northeast Queensland, Australia. Methods We mapped the distribution of trees, lianas and epiphytic ferns to better understand the role of forest disturbance in shaping their competitive and facilitative interactions. We then used specific spatial point-process analyses to examine the effects of the spatial distribution of trees on the presence and abundance of lianas and epiphytic ferns. Results Tree aggregation near forest edges was lower than that in the interior. The higher abundance of lianas near edges was associated with increased spatial segregation between lianas and epiphytic ferns. This segregation suggests there is competition between these two functional groups, and that lianas, being much more abundant, probably outcompete epiphytic ferns. Conclusions The ability of lianas to thrive in disturbed tropical rain forests appears to reduce the abundance of epiphytic ferns, probably via direct competition for space. Epiphytic ferns provide unique microclimates and harbour much biodiversity, and their decline could negatively affect many animals and plants that rely upon them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lianas (climbing woody vines) are important structural parasites of tropical trees and may be increasing in abundance in response to global-change drivers. We assessed long-term (~ 14-year) changes in liana abundance and forest dynamics within 36 1-ha permanent plots spanning ~600 km² of undisturbed rainforest in central Amazonia. Within each plot, we counted each liana stem (≥2 cm diameter) and measured its diameter at 1.3 m height, and then used these data to estimate liana aboveground biomass. An initial liana survey was completed in 1997-1999 and then repeated in 2012, using identical methods. Liana abundance in the plots increased by an average of 1.00% ± 0.88% per year, leading to a highly significant (t = 6.58, df =35, P < 0.00001) increase in liana stem numbers. Liana biomass rose more slowly over time (0.32% ± 1.37% per year) and the mean difference between the two sampling intervals was nonsignificant (t = 1.46, df =35, P = 0.15; paired t tests). Liana size distributions shifted significantly (χ² = 191, df = 8, P < 0.0001; Chi-square test for independence) between censuses, mainly as a result of a nearly 40% increase in the number of smaller (2-3 cm diameter) lianas, suggesting that lianas recruited rapidly during the study. We used long-term data on rainfall and forest dynamics from our study site to test hypotheses about potential drivers of change in liana communities. Lianas generally increase with rainfall seasonality, but we found no significant trends over time (1997-2012) in five rainfall parameters (total annual rainfall, dry-season rainfall, wet-season rainfall, number of very dry months, CV of monthly rainfall). However, rates of tree mortality and recruitment have increased significantly over time in our plots, and general linear mixed-effect models suggested that lianas were more abundant at sites with higher tree mortality and flatter topography. Rising concentrations of atmospheric C02, which may stimulate liana growth, might also have promoted liana increases. Our findings clearly support the view that lianas are increasing in abundance in old-growth tropical forests, possibly in response to accelerating forest dynamics and rising C02 concentrations. The aboveground biomass of trees was lowest in plots with abundant lianas, suggesting that lianas could reduce forest carbon storage and potentially alter forest dynamics if they continue to proliferate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fragmentation of tropical forests is one of the greatest threats to global biodiversity. Understanding how biological and functional attributes of communities respond to fragmentation and, in turn, whether ecosystem functioning is impacted upon are critical steps for assessing the long-term effects and conservation values of forest fragments. Ecosystem functioning can be inferred through functional diversity metrics, including functional richness, evenness and divergence, which collectively quantify the range, distribution and uniqueness of functional traits within a community., Our study was carried out in forest remnants of the Brazilian Atlantic rain forest, which is a global hotspot of threatened biodiversity that has undergone massive deforestation and fragmentation. We focus on trees, which play critical functional roles in forest structure, food provisioning and carbon storage, to examine community organization and functional diversity across a gradient of fragmentation, from small to large fragments and at edge versus interior habitats., The interiors of small fragments have marginally higher species richness, but similar community structures, to the interiors of bigger fragments. In contrast, fragment edges suffered significant losses of species and changes in community structure, relative to fragment interiors., Despite shifts in community organization, functional richness was not impacted by fragmentation, with the same number of functions provided independent of fragment size or proximity to edge. However, functional evenness and functional divergence both increased with decreasing fragment size, while fragment edges had lower functional evenness than interiors did, indicating that the abundance and dominance of functional traits has changed, with negative implications for functional redundancy and ecosystem resilience. At fragment edges, large-fruited trees, critical as resources for fauna, were replaced by early successional, small-seeded species. The influence of fragment size was smaller, with a reduction in very large-fruited trees in small fragments counterbalanced by increased numbers of fleshy- and medium-fruited trees. Wood density was not impacted by fragmentation., Synthesis. These results suggest that the interiors of even small fragments can contain important biodiversity, ecosystem functions and carbon stores, offering potential opportunities for cobenefits under existing carbon markets. Retaining forest fragments is an important conservation strategy within the highly threatened Brazilian Atlantic forest biome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The alteration and transformation of the areas surrounding native forests due to anthropogenic disturbance can result in differences near this newly created boundary, termed 'edge effects'., Our study describes the consequences of edge creation over two successive stages in the life cycle of a hemi-parasitic mistletoe ( Tristerix corymbosus), which determine its reproductive success, in temperate austral forests., We assessed how flower production and pollinator visits change with distance to the nearest forest edge and how these changes affect fruit set, fruit and seed size, and fruit removal by seed dispersers., Edge effects were dominated by fruit removal, which increased with the distance to the edge, height in the canopy and fruit availability. As a result, plant reproduction (in terms of seeds produced and fruits removed, which putatively leads to higher seed dispersal) decreased strongly near to forest edges. In contrast, visitation rates of the main pollinator (the hummingbird) were unaffected by edges, and their strong effects on fruit set (including the alleviation of quality pollen limitation arising in the forest interior) might be mitigating the decrease in bumblebee visitation near to forest edges., Synthesis. Our study shows clearly how secondary and tertiary responses to forest edges acted in opposite directions (increasing or decreasing plant reproductive performance), highlighting the need to study several successive processes that impact upon plant fitness under disturbance. Preserving relatively large patches of old-growth forest with low perimeter/area ratios would be key to the habitat requirements of the main disperser and pollinator and thus for mistletoe reproductive performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Forest fragmentation produces sharp changes in the spatial configuration of remnant forest patches, which include the increasing influence of patch edges on the interior of forest patches ('edge effects'). Human activities responsible for forest fragmentation tend also to change the internal characteristics of remnant patches, for example, through the creation of gaps by selective logging. While edges and gaps can be expected to cause comparable changes in the micro-environmental conditions of the forest, their effects on forest-dwelling species and their interactions are not necessarily comparable. This study compares the effect of forest edges and anthropogenic gaps on the reproductive success of a self-incompatible epiphytic plant ( Mitraria coccinea), mediated by changes in its relationship with mutualists (pollinators) and antagonists (flower larcenists). Mitraria coccinea's flowers are pollinated by hummingbirds and robbed by the bumblebee Bombus dahlbomii. Edges and gaps had comparable positive effects on flower production and fruit set; however, nectar robbing was up to sevenfold higher in patches with numerous gaps and resulted in lower reproductive success (fruit set and total fruit crop). Forest fragmentation studies should therefore avoid treating forest remnants as homogeneous units (i.e. focusing exclusively on their characteristics and connectivity), without taking into account the internal heterogeneity caused by anthropogenic pressures (e.g. gaps and edge effects). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The connectivity of remnant patches of habitat may affect the persistence of species in fragmented landscapes. We evaluated the effects of the structural connectivity of forest patches (i.e., distance between patches) and matrix class (land-cover type) on the functional connectivity of 3 bird species (the White-crested Elaenia [Elaenia albiceps], the Green-backed Firecrown Hummingbird [Sephanoides sephaniodes], and the Austral Thrush [Turdus falklandii]). We measured functional connectivity as the rate at which each species crossed from one patch to another. We also evaluated whether greater functional connectivity translated into greater ecological connectivity (dispersal of fruit and pollen) by comparing among forest patches fruit set of a plant pollinated by hummingbirds and abundance of seedlings and adults of 2 plants with bird- and wind-dispersed seeds. Interpatch distance was strongly associated with functional connectivity, but its effect was not independent of matrix class. For one of the bird-dispersed plants, greater functional connectivity for White-crested Elaenias and Austral Thrushes (both frugivores) was associated with higher densities of this plant. The lack of a similar association for the wind-dispersed species suggests this effect is linked to the dispersal vector. The abundance of the hummingbird-pollinated species was not related to the presence of hummingbirds. Interpatch distance and matrix class affect animal movement in fragmented landscapes and may have a cascading effect on the distribution of some animal-dispersed species. On the basis of our results, we believe effort should be invested in optimizing patch configuration and modifying the matrix so as to mitigate the effects of patch isolation in fragmented landscapes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The process of fragmentation can greatly influence plant-animal interactions. To assess the degree to which it affects the balance between two interactions of opposite sign, namely seed dispersal and post-dispersal seed predation, we selected 16 patches of chestnut forest in O Courel and El Bierzo, northwestern Spain. We assessed the effect of fragmentation over two different seed dispersal-predation systems using Helleborus foetidus and Ilex aquifolium as model species . In the first case, field experiments consisted of seed-offering trays with selective exclusion of rodents and ants in a two-way orthogonal design. In the second experiment, we placed experimental branches and trays on the floor to assess seed dispersal and predation. The interactions between several fragment traits and the relative contribution of rodents, ants and birds to seed removal were analyzed by means of generalized linear mixed models. Results show that for H. foetidus, differences in seed dispersal-predation were accounted for by patch shape, which affected mainly the dispersal phase. Major seed dispersal took place in patches with a smaller edge to core ratio and high plant cover (abandoned patches), whilst the latter also showed maximum seed predation. For I. aquifolium, fragmentation effects were significant only for seed predation, which was increased in abandoned patches. This shows that the effects of habitat fragmentation can emerge at different phases depending on specific traits of the interacting animals. It also highlights the importance of traditional land-use practices in species interactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pollinator choices when selecting flowers for nectar or pollen collection are crucial in determining the effectiveness of pollination services provided to plants. From the plant's perspective, this effectiveness is a phenomenon shaped by factors at both the species‐ (e.g. pollinator density and flower morphology) and community‐level, including pollinator diversity and plant competition for pollinators. At the species level, individual pollinator effectiveness is influenced by foraging choices, plant identity, and the resulting pollen flow within and between plant species. In natural ecosystems, these species coexist within a complex community, where various interactions can modify foraging choices and alter pollen flows, giving rise to community‐level effectiveness, a less explored aspect of pollinator effectiveness. This study investigates the drivers of individual pollinator foraging choices across two study areas and two flowering seasons. It also assesses the community‐level effectiveness of pollination services received by different plant species, considering indirect interactions between plants through shared pollinators and evaluating their impact on plant reproductive success. Our results show that the determinants of pollinator foraging choices are consistent across different habitats, with floral constancy and flower abundance playing pivotal roles across all species and sites. Foraging choices can shift throughout the flowering season as plant and pollinator composition changes, significantly impacting pollination effectiveness. The overlap in pollination service use by individuals of the same plant species decreases their fruit set, whereas sharing pollinator services with individuals of other plant species increases fruit set. Our results support significant, positive biodiversity–ecosystem functioning associations driven by both plant and pollinator species richness, suggesting that the overlap in pollination service use by different plant species fosters facilitative interactions rather than competition. This is likely influenced by more stable pollination supplies under high plant species diversity conditions and the existence of mechanisms to mitigate the negative impacts of heterospecific pollen deposition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]