• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.48 no.3
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• pp.256-262
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• 2024

Background: Research investigating the relationship between latitude and network specialization plant-pollinator networks present conflicting results. While some studies indicate a positive link between latitude and network specialization, particularly in tropical regions, others suggest contradictory trends, with specialization declining towards lower latitudes. These studies underscore the intricate nature of ecological specialization in plant-pollinator networks and the need for further studies in this field to gain a more nuanced understanding of the underlying mechanisms driving these patterns. In this study, we explore the relationship between plant-pollinator network specialization and latitude using a global dataset comprising 93 plant-pollinator networks. Results: Our analysis revealed a significant relationship with latitude mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, particularly concerning metrics such as connectance and nestedness. However, notably, we found no association with H2, a metric immune to the size, shape, or sampling effects of the network and considered highly suitable for measuring network specialization in both Hemispheres. Conclusions: The absence of latitudinal trends in network specialization (H2) in both Hemispheres in this study imply that the mutual attraction between plants and pollinators remains relatively stable across various latitudes. Our comparison with prior research highlights the diversity of conclusions regarding how latitude influences plant-pollinator networks. While our results are consistent with certain studies, indicating no direct impact of latitude on network specialization, discrepancies persist.

• Proceedings of the National Institute of Ecology of the Republic of Korea
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• v.3 no.3
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• pp.149-153
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• 2022

The degree distribution of the plant-pollinator network was identified by analyzing the data in the ecosystem and reproduced by a model of the growing bipartite mutualistic networks. The degree distribution of pollinator shows power law or stretched exponential distribution, while plant usually shows stretched exponential distribution. In the growth model, the plant and the pollinator are selected with probability P_p and P_A=1-P_p, respectively. The number of incoming links for the plant and the pollinator is l_p and l_A, respectively. The probability that the link of the plant selects the pollinator of the existing network given as $A_{k_i}=k^{{\lambda}_A}_i/{\sum}_i\;k^{{\lambda}_A}_i$, and the probability that the pollinator selects the plant is $P_{k_i}=k^{{\lambda}_p}_i/{\sum}_i\;k^{{\lambda}_p}_i$. When the nonlinear growth index is 𝛌_X=1 (X=A or P), the degree distribution follows a power law, and if 0≤𝛌_X<1, the degree distribution follows a stretched exponential distribution. The cumulative degree distributions of plants and pollinators of 14 empirical plant-pollinators included in Interaction Web Database were calculated. A set of parameters (P_A,P_P,l_A,l_P) that reproduces these cumulative degree distributions and a growth index 𝛌_X (X=A or P) were obtained. We found that animal takes very heterogenous connections, whereas plant takes a more flexible connection network.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.46 no.1
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• pp.18-30
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• 2022

Background: Bees and flowering plants associations were initially began during the early Cretaceous, 120 million years ago. This coexistence has led to a mutual relationship where the plant serves as food and in return, the bee help them their reproduction. Animals pollinate about 75% of food crops worldwide, with bees as the world's primary pollinator. In general, bees rely on flower scents to locate blooming flowers as visual clue is limited and also their host plants from a distance. In this review, an attempt is made to collect some relevant 107 published papers from three scientific databases, Google Scholar, Scopus, and Web of Science database, covering the period from 1959 to 2021. Results: Flowering plants are well documented to actively emit volatile organic compounds (VOCs). However, only a few of them are important for eliciting behavioral responses in bees. In this review, fifty-three volatile organic compounds belonging to different class of compounds, mainly terpenoids, benzenoids, and volatile fatty acid derivatives, is compiled here from floral scents that are responsible for eliciting behavioral responses in bees. Bees generally use honest floral signals to locate their host plants with nectar and pollen-rich flowers. Thus, honest signaling mechanism plays a key role in maintaining mutualistic plant-pollinator associations. Conclusions: Considering the fact that floral scents are the primary attractants, understanding and identification of VOCs from floral scent in plant-pollinator networks are crucial to improve crop pollination. Interestingly, current advances in both VOCs scent gene identification and their biosynthetic pathways make it possible to manipulate particular VOCs in plant, and this eventually may lead to increase in crop productivity.