%0 Journal Article
%T Temporal development and collapse of an Arctic plant-pollinator network
%A Clementine Pradal
%A Jens M Olesen
%A Carsten Wiuf
%J BMC Ecology
%D 2009
%I BioMed Central
%R 10.1186/1472-6785-9-24
%X We develop a mathematical model with parameters governed by the probabilities for entering, leaving and making connections in the network and demonstrate that A. The dynamics is described by very similar parameters in both years despite a strong turnover in the composition of the pollinator community and different climate conditions, B. There is a drastic change in the temporal behaviour a few days before the end of the season in both years. This change leads to the collapse of the network and does not correlate with weather parameters, C. We estimate that the number of available pollinator species is about 80 species of which 75-80% are observed in each year, D. The network does not reach an equilibrium state (as defined by our model) before the collapse set in and the season is over.We have shown that the temporal dynamics of an Arctic plant-pollinator network can be described by a simple mathematical model and that the model allows us to draw biologically interesting conclusions. Our model makes it possible to investigate how the network topology changes with changes in parameter values and might provide means to study the effect of climate on plant-pollinator networks.The structure of plant-pollinator networks and other ecosystems has been described through features reflecting their topology and complex organization [1-3]. Also, aspects of the network dynamics have been studied, mainly from the perspective of understanding the principles that rule the number and choice of connections made by species in the network. One prominent example is the model of preferential attachment [4,5], where new species entering the network tend to link to species already well-connected. Such models have been fitted to empirical pollination networks, see e.g. [6].One key aspect of plant-pollinator networks remains little explored, namely the temporal dynamics. The temporal dynamics describes how a network is formed and modified over time, its sustainability and robustness and the m
%U http://www.biomedcentral.com/1472-6785/9/24