Functional complementarity and specialisation: The role of biodiversity in plant–pollinator interactions

• Published in: Basic and applied ecology Vol. 12; no. 4; pp. 282 - 291
• Main Authors: Blüthgen, Nico, Klein, Alexandra-Maria
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier GmbH 01.06.2011
• Subjects: biodiversity; Complementary specialisation; Ecological networks; Ecological niche; Ecosystem functioning; ecosystems; flowering; flowers; H2; Mutualism; nectar; Nutrition; plant communities; pollen; Pollination; pollinators; Redundancy; Complementary specialisation; Nutrition; Redundancy; Ecological niche; Ecosystem functioning; H 2; Mutualism; Ecological networks; Pollination

Ecological niche breadth (specialisation) and niche differentiation (complementarity) play a key role for species coexistence and hence biodiversity. Some niche dimensions of a species represent ecosystem functions or services such as pollination (functional niche). When species differ in their cont...