"A model for plant–pollinator interaction with separation of pollen and nectar dynamics"Revilla, TomásThe mutualistic interaction between plants and pollinators works by the exchange between plant resources (such as nectar but sometimes pollen) and pollinator dispersal services among con-specific plants. Since a great number of pollinators are generalist foragers, the quality of pollinator services is potentially compromised by inter-specific pollen transfer, causing losses for the male component of plant fitness. This article proposes a mechanistic approach to model plant–pollinator interactions that takes into account the dynamics of pollen pick-up and and its delivery to con- and hetero-specific targets, in parallel but separated from the consumption dynamics of plant rewards by the pollinators. The resulting model captures the interference effect caused of inter-specific pollen transfer, and predicts how the net interaction plant and pollinator varies along gradients of mutualism and antagonism, depending on the ecological context and species traits. |
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