The central importance of the honeybee (Apis mellifera L.) within plant-bee interaction networks decreases along a Neotropical elevational gradient

Abstract

The honeybee Apis mellifera is an introduced managed pollinator species in many world regions and exhibits a high capacity to compete for resources against native bee species. Despite empirical evidence showing that A. mellifera establishes a great number of interactions within plant-bee interaction networks (i.e., high interactive role), little is known on whether its interactive role changes along elevational gradients. Being motivated by these concerns, here we assessed the species richness of plants, bees, interaction diversity, and the interactive role of A. mellifera within plant-bee interaction networks along an elevation gradient from the coastal dunes (4 m.a.s.l.) of the Gulf of Mexico up to the pine-fir forests (3425 m.a.s.l.) in the extinct volcano Cofre de Perote in Mexico. Moreover, we evaluated the interactive role of A. mellifera’s on the diversity of plant-bee interactions along this elevational gradient. We found a decrease in the richness of plants, bees, interaction diversity as elevation increased, and the interactive role of A. mellifera within the networks also decreased with elevation. Moreover, the interactive role of A. mellifera had no effect on the diversity of plant-bee interactions along the studied elevational gradient. These findings indicate that climatic conditions could be filtering plant and bee species and their interactions, even the interactions of a super generalist species as A. mellifera. In short, our study helps understand the responses of species and their biotic interactions over Neotropical elevational gradients. By examining the pronounced climatic shifts, similar to those induced by climate change, we also highlight the sensitivity of these responses to significant environmental alterations. Our findings underscore the critical importance of understanding ecological dynamics in the face of rapidly changing climates.