DISSERTATION RESEARCH: The effects of pollinator diversity loss on plant-pollinator interaction networks and native plant reproduction in scrub ecosystems of Southern California

人类发展经常导致传粉者多样性的下降，但人们对这种下降如何影响自然界的传粉生态系统服务知之甚少（例如，非农业生态系统。对于一系列的灌木栖息地领域的大型自然保护区和小补丁的天然灌木栖息地嵌入城市景观网站在南加州。这项研究将研究传粉者多样性的下降如何影响传粉者和本土植物之间的相互作用以及本土植物物种的繁殖。该项目的研究结果将与自然生态系统中植物-传粉者相互作用的保护、管理和恢复有关。此外，至少有六名本科生将接受实验室和现场技术的多样性培训，以及有关科学职业的指导。该项目的其他更广泛的影响包括让高中生参与动手科学研究，并提供南加州本地传粉者多样性和分布的数据。该研究将评估传粉者多样性与植物-传粉者相互作用网络的结构和功能之间的因果关系。pollutants网络将使用经验花卉访问观察研究地点位于自然保护区和灌木栖息地片段在南加州。一种本土植物物种也将被实验性地引入研究地点，以评估授粉网络的重组如何可能影响植物的授粉和繁殖。将检验两个假设：（1）传粉者多样性的丧失产生的网络具有更高的模块化和更少的链接，比基于现存传粉者分类群的数量的预期，和（2）与传粉者多样性丧失相关的网络结构的变化负面地影响花的访问，花粉沉积，和一个焦点本地植物物种的整体生殖适合度。

Human development often causes declines in the diversity of pollinators, but little is known about how such declines impact pollination ecosystem services in natural (e.g., non-agricultural) ecosystems. For a series of scrub habitat field in large natural reserves and in small patches of natural scrub habitat embedded in urban landscapes sites in Southern California. The research will examine how declines in pollinator diversity impact interactions between pollinators and native plants and the reproduction of a native plant species. The findings of this project will be relevant to the conservation, management, and restoration of plant-pollinator interactions in natural ecosystems. Additionally, at least six undergraduate students will receive training in a diversity of laboratory and field techniques as well as mentorship regarding careers in science. Additional broader impacts of this project include engaging high school students in hands-on scientific research and contributing data on the diversity and distribution of Southern California native pollinators.The research will evaluate the causal link between pollinator diversity and the structure and function of plant-pollinator interaction networks. Pollination networks will be constructed using empirical floral visitation observations study sites located in natural reserves and scrub habitat fragments in Southern California. A native plant species will also be experimentally introduced into study sites to evaluate how the restructuring of pollination networks may potentially impact plant pollination and reproduction. Two hypotheses will be tested: (1) pollinator diversity loss yields networks with higher modularity and fewer links than expected based on the number of extant pollinator taxa, and (2) changes in network architecture associated with pollinator diversity loss negatively affect floral visitation, pollen deposition, and overall reproductive fitness of a focal native plant species.