Ecosystem restoration strengthens pollination network resilience and function ($)

How does ecosystem restoration affect ecosystem services such as pollination? Kaiser-Bunbury et al. analysed 64 plant-pollinator networks across four restored and four unrestored communities. Restoration involved the removal of all exotic plants (nearly 40,000 individuals). After restoration, over a period of several months, they recorded pollinator-plant interactions: a total of more than 12,000 pollinator visits. They found on average 20% more pollinator species in the restored compared to the unrestored communities. The greater pollination networks indicate greater functional redundancy and lower mutual dependency, leading to more efficient pollination and ecosystem resilience. Nature 10.1038/nature21071