Integration of historic collections can shed light on patterns of change in plant–pollinator interactions and pollination service

Abstract

Abstract Mutualistic interactions between plants and animal pollinators are increasingly under threat through anthropogenic change, and it is critical to understand how temporal changes affect the structure and function of these ecologically important interactions. Because the responses of plant–pollinator interactions to anthropogenic change may take place over decades, historical collections that store information across long time horizons contribute uniquely to our understanding. In this article, we highlight several key questions related to long‐term changes in the structure and function of plant–pollinator interactions. We articulate how research could proceed rapidly via new techniques, greater integration of resources in museum collections along with coincident use of a single data source. We acknowledge the challenges that come with using historical collections and discuss how to minimize them. We provide suggestions that will allow for full utilization of museum resources for addressing a variety of issues regarding plant–pollinator interactions. This perspective paper aims to stimulate new integrative research aimed at understanding temporal patterns in plant–pollinator interactions. Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog.