Individual-based plant‐visitor networks in Brazilian palm swamps under different dryness levels

Interactions between plants and floral visitors have a significant influence on the structure and function of ecosystems. The study of these interactions can be performed through the analysis of ecological networks, allowing an understanding of the complexity of ecosystem functioning. The objective of the present study was to verify whether the characteristics of individuals of Byrsonima intermedia (Malpighiaceae) affects its role in the network of interactions with floral visitors in Brazilian palm swamps (veredas). Veredas with different levels of dryness were studied, including one degraded vereda (advanced stage of drying), one intermediate vereda (low drying), and one preserved vereda (no drying). For sampling, we selected 45 individuals of the Byrsonima intermedia plant, 15 in each area, where they were monitored to observe the behavior of floral visitor insects and to measure the characteristics of the plant individuals. As a result, the networks of all sampled area were significantly modular and specialized, with the preserved vereda showing greater specialization. In this study, we observed that the networks of individuals of Byrsonima intermedia and their floral visitors were mainly composed of non-oil-collecting bees. The results show that the abundance of resources offered by each individual in the network, the size of the flower and the plant height are some factors that can determine its role in the network of interactions in the studied veredas. Finally, it is concluded that individual plant interactions can be affected both by environmental characteristics and by plant morphological attributes.