The Role of Pollinators in Maintaining Plant Biodiversity

Abstract

Pollinators play a central role in the reproduction of many flowering plants and contribute substantially to the maintenance of plant diversity in natural and agricultural ecosystems. Bees, butterflies, moths, beetles, flies, birds, bats, and other animals transfer pollen between flowers, enabling fertilization and the production of seeds and fruits. Pollination can influence plant population persistence, genetic exchange, community composition, and ecosystem functioning. Declines in pollinator abundance and diversity caused by habitat loss, pesticides, disease, climate change, and other pressures may therefore affect plant biodiversity. This paper examines nine major dimensions of the relationship between pollinators and plant biodiversity, including pollination biology, pollinator diversity, plant reproduction, genetic variation, ecological networks, agricultural importance, threats, conservation, and future strategies.