Higher Reproductive Success Research Articles

African elephant feeding preferences in a small South African fenced game reserve

Recent significant changes to African elephant (Loxodonta africana) populations have placed their management at the centre of the global wildlife conservation management debate, with most of the discussion surrounding population declines. However, in small, invariably fenced reserves found over much of South Africa, their numbers have expanded due to elevated levels of protection from poaching, artificial water provision, high reproductive success and lack of dispersal opportunities. Under these conditions, concerns arise surrounding the negative impacts of elephant feeding behaviour and strategy, with calls from some quarters for intervention options to address this ‘elephant problem’.Research in a small (380 km2) fenced reserve in the Limpopo province of South Africa was carried out in a variety of habitat and terrain types to assess type and level of elephant impact in relation to tree architecture. Impact was assessed to be predominantly non-lethal, with only a small proportion of surveyed trees assessed to have been lethally impacted upon. Tree species exhibiting certain architectural characteristics, notably trees with a wider canopy measurement than their overall height measurement, were particularly prone to negative feeding impacts, especially damage to primary and secondary branches. Trees with wide basal stem circumferences were most prone to being killed by elephants, with the overall likelihood of a tree experiencing the most severe impact types increasing with basal stem circumference. In contrast, an increase in height was shown to decrease the likelihood of a tree experiencing severe impact types, indicating that tall trees are less likely to suffer mortality due to elephant impact.We suggest that managers of fenced elephant reserves conduct baseline monitoring of elephant impacts. These studies indicate that width at widest point, and to a lesser extent height at widest point are likely to be useful additions to baseline vegetation monitoring. This will identify the level and type of elephant induced impacts, specifically revealing those locations within fenced reserves with a significant component of target tree species/morphologies. Ultimately this will both initiate and direct preventative management measures, we suggest primarily in the form of exclusion fencing in order to prevent access by elephants.

Parent-offspring conflict unlikely to explain 'child marriage' in northwestern Tanzania.

Approximately 40% of women in sub-Saharan Africa marry before their eighteenth birthday1. Within the international development sector, this phenomenon is referred to as 'child marriage', widely equated to forced marriage, and recognized as damaging to multiple dimensions of female well-being1,2. An escalating global campaign to end early marriage typically assumes that its high prevalence is driven by a conflict of interests between parents and daughters, with parents coercing daughters to marry early for the parents' economic benefit3. However, a parent-offspring conflict model of early marriage has not been explicitly tested. Here we present a study of marriage transitions in rural Tanzania, where marriage before or just after 18 years of age is normative. Consistent with parental coercion, we find that bridewealth transfers are highest for younger brides. However, autonomy in partner choice is very common at all ages, relationships between age at marriage and female well-being are largely equivocal, and women who marry early achieve relatively higher reproductive success. We conclude that, in contexts in which adolescents have autonomy in marriage choices and in which marriage promotes economic and social security, early marriage may be better understood as serving the strategic interests of both parents and daughters.

A potential role for immigrant reproductive behavior in the outcome of population augmentations

AbstractAugmenting wild populations with translocated individuals is a powerful conservation tool to achieve genetic rescue, but little is known about the role mating behavior plays in the success of augmentation efforts. We studied the behavior of male Trinidadian guppies Poecilia reticulata introduced into experimental mesocosm populations and assessed whether mating behavior influenced reproductive success. A previously published analysis of the same experiment found that populations from the Quare River had higher immigrant reproductive success than populations from the Marianne River, contributing to higher population fitness following augmentation. However, the reason for high immigrant reproductive success remained unclear. Our behavioral observations of a subset of those populations revealed that immigrant males from Quare (but not Marianne) performed more sexual displays and forced copulations and had marginally higher reproductive success than resident males. These results, combined with significant differences in reproductive success and population fitness reported in the previous study, suggest that mating behavior may have improved the outcome of augmentation by increasing genetic admixture. We urge wildlife managers and researchers to consider mating behavior as a factor influencing augmentation success.

Courtship performance as function of body condition in an ‘ancient’ form of sperm transfer

Abstract In most animal species, body condition has a fundamental role in fitness. In males, sexual selection generally favors larger body size or greater weight. This may result in males with better condition performing more vigorous courtships, and biasing female preferences. The effects of body condition on mating performance have been extensively studied in different animal groups. Among arachnids, scorpions are an interesting group for evaluating the effects of these sexual traits on mating performance, since they exhibit an ancient mode of indirect sperm transfer. Scorpion males deposit a single spermatophore on the soil to transfer the sperm to the females, and therefore, the production of spermatophores involves a high cost for them. In this study, we use the scorpion Bothriurus bonariensis as a model to evaluate different patterns of sexual behavior as a function of the body condition of both males and females. We found that males with a better body condition performed the mating dance stage more quickly than males with a lower condition. In addition, males performed the sexual sting behavior for a longer time with females in a better condition. Our results suggest that a better condition provides a mating advantage to males and represents an indicator of courtship performance. Given that female quality is usually correlated with fecundity, males mating with females with a better body condition probably have higher reproductive success.

Birds with high lifetime reproductive success experience increased telomere loss.

Lifetime reproductive success (LRS) is what counts in terms of evolution, but investments in reproduction entail costs for an organism. The idea that telomere dynamics may be shaped in response to such costs is already established; however, we still lack information on whether this relation translates to overall fitness. Here, we quantified LRS (number of fledged young) and longitudinal telomere dynamics of small passerine birds-the blue tits ( Cyanistes caeruleus). We found that individual telomere erosion rate was positively associated with lifetime fledgling number. Birds with more fledged young experienced increased telomere attrition. We show that telomere attrition rate, but not telomere length, is related to individual fitness and suggest that telomere dynamics may underlie reproductive costs experienced by animals as a consequence of prioritizing their lifetime fitness. This is the first study, to our knowledge, to provide evidence that more pronounced telomere erosion is associated with higher fitness gain.

Breeding Biology of Montagu's Harrier Circus pygargus in South-Eastern Spain

Recent changes in farming throughout Europe are threatening steppe birds, such as Montagu's Harrier Circus pygargus, a steppe raptor that nests in cereal crops, and is therefore threatened by the destruction of its nests by harvesters. Here we analyse the reproductive biology of Montagu's Harrier in Granada province of (south-eastern Spain), based on 184 nests monitored from 2003 to 2014. The mean laying date in our study area is one of the earliest recorded for the species, and mean clutch size one of the lowest, as expected considering the latitude at which the population is located. We also found that laying date was progressively earlier over the study period, whereas both clutch size and productivity have increased. The results show high reproductive success (82%), with a productivity of 2.67 fledglings per nest. However, this high productivity was achieved thanks to the nest rescue campaigns. Had the nests saved been lost, productivity would be only 1.47 fledglings per nest. Therefore, nest-rescue campaigns are fundamental for the conservation of the Montagu's Harrier population of south-eastern Spain.—Moreno-Rueda, G., Lopezosa, P. & Rivas, J.M. (2019). Breeding biology of Montagu's Harrier Circus pygargus in south-eastern Spain. Ardeola, 66.1: 3–11.

Uncoordinated dances associated with high reproductive success in a crane

Why do crane pairs dance? We showed uncoordinated dances associated with high reproductive success. Dance duration increased as the breeding season approached. The results partially supported the hypothesis that pair dances contribute to a pair bond. This is the first study to assess the role of pair dances in these animals.

Daily behavioural activity patterns and reproductive ecology of urban rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta) in human dominated landscape and its implication in management

We observed behavioural activity patterns, daily movements and reproductive ecology (birth rate, death rate, breeding seasons, mating) of urban rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta) in man-made environment after their reintroduction in Asola-Bhatti Wildlife Sanctuary, Delhi, India using instantaneous sampling or scan sampling method. The daily activity patterns of rhesus macaques inhabiting in the sanctuary were observed from 6:00 h to 18:00 hrs per day from March 2016 to June 2017. The percentage of each activity was estimated quantitatively and birth rate per female per troop in a year was calculated in total 21 troops of rhesus macaques. Macaques adopted different time slot for maximum utilization of food and space available and we estimated the percent time spent of each activity pattern and their variations in a particular geographic area. Daily average distance travelled was 1.89 km/day and it was restricted to the feeding platforms. Mortality was incredibly low (0.17) and high reproductive success was in females per troop. Number of females per troop was 4.48 on average, mean birth rate was calculated 2.20 per female per troop in a year, gestation length 160 days on average. Breeding seasons were April to June and late August to October, although there was no seasonal variation in daily activity pattern and movement ranges throughout the year in the sanctuary. Our study recommendation will help in reducing human-macaque conflicts in urban areas and will serve as a potential source of information of ecology, behaviour of urban rhesus macaques and their management.

'Love at first sight': The effect of personality and colouration patterns in the reproductive success of zebrafish (Danio rerio).

Individual differences in animal personality and external appearance such as colouration patterns have both been extensively studied separately. A significant body of research has explored many of pertinent ecological and biological aspects that can be affected by them and their impact upon fitness. Currently little is known about how both factors interact and their effect on reproductive success. In this study, we evaluated two major parameters contributing to the fitness of the species: reproduction and offspring survival. We selected two different phenotypes of the zebrafish (Danio rerio) selected by their colouration patterns: phenotype 1) named Wild type, UAB line (WT-UAB) with a homogeneous colouration pattern (clear and defined lateral stripes) and phenotype 2) Wild type indefinite (WT-I) had a heterogeneous colouration pattern and different degrees of lateral stripe definition. All animals were also screened for personality. We then compared their reproductive success (spawning rate) and offspring survival at different stages, from egg to larvae, and for 2 successive generations (parental generation was G0; First and second generations were G1 and G2 respectively). Our results show that personality traits were the main source of variability between the fitness components measured: both personalities had similar total numbers of eggs spawned but proactive animals, for both colour phenotypes, had higher reproductive success. This was reflected in a higher percentage of spawning viability at 1day post fertilization (dpf), higher total survival and growth rates at larval stages. Proactive phenotypes from WT-UAB population had a higher overall fitness in comparison to the other phenotypes studied. Our findings imply that fitness of this species when kept under similar husbandry conditions is significantly influenced by parental personality and not by their external appearance. Under these conditions the reproductive success is enhanced. The implications of this study are important for zebrafish breeding and husbandry in captivity and are relevant toward understanding the underlying drivers of trait selection in natural environments.

The effects of a bacterial challenge on reproductive success of fruit flies evolved under low or high sexual selection.

The capacity of individuals to cope with stress, for example, from pathogen exposure, might decrease with increasing levels of sexual selection, although it remains unclear which sex should be more sensitive. Here, we measured the ability of each sex to maintain high reproductive success following challenges with either heat‐killed bacteria or procedural control, across replicate populations of Drosophila melanogaster evolved under either high or low levels of sexual selection. Our experiment was run across four separate sampling blocks. We found an interaction between bacterial treatment, sexual selection treatment, and sampling block on female reproductive success. Specifically, and only in the fourth block, we observed that bacterial‐challenged females that had evolved under high sexual selection, exhibited lower reproductive success than bacterial‐challenged females that had evolved under low sexual selection. Furthermore, we could trace this block‐specific effect to a reduction in viscosity of the ovipositioning substrate in the fourth block, in which females laid around 50% more eggs than in previous blocks. In contrast, patterns of male reproductive success were consistent across blocks. Males that evolved under high sexual selection exhibited higher reproductive success than their low‐selection counterparts, regardless of whether they were subjected to a bacterial challenge or not. Our results are consistent with the prediction that heightened sexual selection will invoke male‐specific evolutionary increases in reproductive fitness. Furthermore, our findings suggest that females might pay fitness costs when exposed to high levels of sexual selection, but that these costs may lie cryptic, and only be revealed under certain environmental contexts.

Artificial nests for Barn Swallows Hirundo rustica: a conservation option for a declining passerine?

ABSTRACTCapsule: Barn swallows Hirundo rustica using artificial nest cups had greater reproductive success than those building and using natural nests.Aims: To quantify reproductive success of Barn Swallows breeding in artificial man-made nests and compare with those using natural nests.Methods: In 2012–16, the breeding attempts of 231 pairs of Barn Swallows were monitored in artificial and natural nests in an urban habitat in Denmark.Results: Pairs breeding in old natural nests and artificial nests bred earlier, laid more eggs, and produced more nestlings and fledglings than pairs breeding in new natural nests. Inter-clutch intervals were shorter in Barn Swallow pairs using artificial nests and old natural nests. Nest cup volume and nest volume of newly built nests were significantly larger and more variable than artificial nests excluding an effect of nest size as an explanation for the larger clutches laid in artificial nests. Increased energy and time costs of nest construction may have reduced reproductive success for pairs building natural nests.Conclusion: Artificial nests were readily accepted by Barn Swallows, they had a similar low predation rate as natural nests, and they proved to be a possible conservation option for this declining passerine breeding in urban habitats as evidenced by their 75% higher reproductive success in artificial nests.

Occurrence, performance and shoot damage of Tomicus piniperda in pine stands in southern Sweden after storm‐felling

AbstractThe pine shoot beetle, Tomicus piniperda (L.), is considered one of the most destructive pests of Scots pine, Pinus sylvestris (L.), in Europe. At high population densities, its feeding in the shoots of living pine trees may lead to substantial shoot and subsequent growth losses. After a storm‐felling in southern Sweden in January 2005, there were high amounts of breeding material and a subsequent risk for bark beetle outbreaks. To study the beetle's reproductive success, population levels and risks for growth losses, we analysed bark samples of colonized trees, and counted fallen pine shoots. During the first season after the storm‐felling, the pine shoot beetle population level was low. However, due to high reproductive success beetle numbers markedly increased in the second season, and there were high rates of successful colonization of available host material in following years. Shoot damage levels concomitantly rose in 2005–2006, then declined in 2007 and 2008. However, the accumulated shoot losses do not indicate any subsequent growth losses, as the recorded shoot damage levels were below those earlier seen in connection with growth reductions in damaged pine stands.

Environmental cues and dietary antioxidants affect breeding behavior and testosterone of male European starlings (Sturnus vulgaris)

Environmental cues, such as photoperiod, regulate the timing of major life-history events like breeding through direct neuroendocrine control. Less known is how supplementary environmental cues (e.g., nest sites, food availability) interact to influence key hormones and behaviors involved in reproduction, specifically in migratory species with gonadal recrudescence largely occurring at breeding sites. We investigated the behavioral and physiological responses of male European starlings to the sequential addition of nest boxes and nesting material, green herbs, and female conspecifics and how these responses depend on the availability of certain antioxidants (anthocyanins) in the diet. As expected, cloacal protuberance volume and plasma testosterone of males generally increased with photoperiod. More notably, testosterone levels peaked in males fed the high antioxidant diet when both nest box and herbal cues were present, while males fed the low antioxidant diet showed no or only a muted testosterone response to the sequential addition of these environmental cues; thus our results are in agreement with the oxidation handicap hypothesis. Males fed the high antioxidant diet maintained a constant frequency of breeding behaviors over time, whereas those fed the low antioxidant diet decreased breeding behaviors as environmental cues were sequentially added. Overall, sequential addition of the environmental cues modulated physiological and behavioral measures of reproductive condition, and dietary antioxidants were shown to be a key factor in affecting the degree of response to each of these cues. Our results highlight the importance of supplementary environmental cues and key resources such as dietary antioxidants in enhancing breeding condition of males, which conceivably aid in attraction of high quality females and reproductive success.

Are seeds able to germinate before fruit color ripening? Evidence from six Neotropical bird‐dispersed plant species

AbstractMany plants attract seed dispersers and indicate the presence of ripe, fleshy fruits with coloration changes. If seed maturation is simultaneous with visual signs for frugivorous, a portion of seeds can be removed before being ready for dispersal. In this study, we tested the delay visual signal hypothesis (DVSH), which implies high reproductive success when seed maturation precedes the visual signal of the fruit ripening, limiting the dispersal of unviable seeds. We evaluated this hypothesis with six tropical species that have fruits with discrete coloration for the immature, intermediate, and mature stages, testing the prediction that the development of mature and intermediate seeds is similar. First, we verified that the coloration of three categories was differentiable with color analysis. Next, we carried out germination and viability tests (i.e., electrical conductivity [EC] and tetrazolium) as an approach to evaluate the germination potential along development. We found that the EC of three species decreased constantly during fruit ripening, suggesting that the seed maturation is a gradual process, with a substantial germination of intermediate seeds. In the other species, the conductivity of seeds of fruits with intermediate coloration was lower than that of mature fruit, because mature seeds are more affected by predators and pathogens. The tetrazolium tests indicated that the viability of seeds of three species increased with maturity and smaller differences between intermediate and mature stages were observed, supporting the DVSH. Only two species achieved high percentages of germination, and for Myrcia splendens, the pattern was very consistent with the hypothesis. We concluded that the germination and viability rates of the seeds of each plant species depend on many factors (e.g., dormancy and time of exposure to predators); however, for all the species studied, there is some evidence that seeds can germinate before they reach maturity by color.

Estimating nest‐level phenology and reproductive success of colonial seabirds using time‐lapse cameras

Abstract Collecting spatially extensive data on phenology and reproductive success is important for seabird conservation and management, but can be logistically challenging in remote regions. Autonomous time‐lapse camera systems offer an opportunity to provide such coverage. We describe a method to estimate nest‐level breeding phenology and reproductive success of colonial pygoscelid penguins using photographs from time‐lapse cameras. The method derives from stereotypical patterns of nest attendance, where predominantly two adults are present before and during laying, but switch to one adult during incubation. The switch approximates the date of clutch completion and is estimated by fitting a smoothing spline to daily nest attendance data, identifying candidate dates that switch from two adults to one and selecting the date when the first derivative of the spline is minimized. Clutch initiation and hatch dates are then estimated from the mean, species‐specific interval between laying (pygoscelid penguins typically lay two eggs) and the duration of the incubation period. We estimated these intervals for each species from historical field data. The phenology is adjusted when photographs indicate egg or chick presence prior to their estimated lay or hatch dates. The number of chicks alive in each study nest on its crèche date determines reproductive success estimates. The method was validated with concurrent direct observations for each species and then applied to a camera network in the Antarctic Peninsula region to demonstrate its utility. Mean egg laying and incubation intervals from direct observations were similar within species across sites. In the validation study, the mean clutch initiation, hatch and crèche dates were generally equivalent between photographs and direct observations. Estimates of reproductive success were identical. Applying the method to a time‐lapse network suggested relatively high reproductive success for all species across the region and corroborated general understanding of latitudinal trends and species‐level plasticity in phenology. The method accurately estimated phenology and reproductive success relative to direct observations and appears well‐suited to operationalize regional time‐lapse camera networks. The estimation method should be applicable for other seabirds with stereotypical nest attendance patterns from which breeding phenology could be estimated.

Hormones and Fitness: Evidence for Trade-Offs in Glucocorticoid Regulation Across Contexts

Glucocorticoid hormones are important regulators of metabolic processes, and of the behavioral and physiological responses to stressors. Within-population variation in circulating glucocorticoids has been linked with both reproductive success and survival, but the presence and direction of relationships vary. Although conceptual models suggest the potential for interactions between glucocorticoid secretion under acute stress and non-acute stress contexts to influence phenotype and fitness, very little is known about the presence or implications of such interactions. Here we use a large data set from breeding tree swallows (Tachycineta bicolor; n=215) to test the predictors of reproductive success and annual survival probability in females and males over a four-year period. Across years and life history stages, glucocorticoids predicted fitness in female tree swallows. Under challenging conditions, females that maintained low baseline corticosterone levels during incubation had higher reproductive success. During the nestling provisioning period, interactions between baseline glucocorticoids and the stress response suggest that females may face trade-offs in the regulation of glucocorticoids across contexts. Reproductive success was highest among females that maintained low baseline glucocorticoids coupled with a strong acute stress response, and among females with high baseline glucocorticoids and a weak acute stress response. Females with low or high glucocorticoid levels across contexts (baseline and acute stress) fledged fewer young. Glucocorticoid levels did not predict fledging success in males. None of the models of annual survival probability in females received strong support; model comparisons suggested weak negative effects of stress responsiveness during provisioning, and positive effects of body condition and age, on survival. Male survival probability was not predicted by breeding phenotype. Within and across years the glucocorticoid stress response was individually repeatable; across-year repeatability was particularly high during the nestling provisioning period. Both measures of the acute stress response – circulating stress-induced corticosterone levels and their stress-induced increase – showed similar repeatability, but baseline corticosterone was not repeatable within or across years. Overall, our results suggest that taking into account the potential for individual differences in glucocorticoid trait expression in one context to influence optimal endocrine expression in other contexts could be important for understanding the evolution of endocrine systems.

Life history variation is maintained by fitness trade-offs and negative frequency-dependent selection

The maintenance of diverse life history strategies within and among species remains a fundamental question in ecology and evolutionary biology. By using a near-complete 16-year pedigree of 12,579 winter-run steelhead (Oncorhynchus mykiss) from the Hood River, Oregon, we examined the continued maintenance of two life history traits: the number of lifetime spawning events (semelparous vs. iteroparous) and age at first spawning (2-5 years). We found that repeat-spawning fish had more than 2.5 times the lifetime reproductive success of single-spawning fish. However, first-time repeat-spawning fish had significantly lower reproductive success than single-spawning fish of the same age, suggesting that repeat-spawning fish forego early reproduction to devote additional energy to continued survival. For single-spawning fish, we also found evidence for a fitness trade-off for age at spawning: older, larger males had higher reproductive success than younger, smaller males. For females, in contrast, we found that 3-year-old fish had the highest mean lifetime reproductive success despite the observation that 4- and 5-year-old fish were both longer and heavier. This phenomenon was explained by negative frequency-dependent selection: as 4- and 5-year-old fish decreased in frequency on the spawning grounds, their lifetime reproductive success became greater than that of the 3-year-old fish. Using a combination of mathematical and individual-based models parameterized with our empirical estimates, we demonstrate that both fitness trade-offs and negative frequency-dependent selection observed in the empirical data can theoretically maintain the diverse life history strategies found in this population.

Status And Effects Of Food Provisioning on Ecology of Assamese Monkey (Macaca Assamensis) In Ramdi Area of Palpa, Nepal

The population status of Assamese monkey (Macaca assamensis) (McClelland 1840) and its interaction with the local people is poorly documented in Nepal. In 2014, we studied the population status, diurnal time budget and human-monkey conflict in Ramdi, Nepal by direct count, scan sampling and questionnaire survey methods, respectively. Two troops of Assamese monkey having total population of 48 with the mean troop size of 24 individuals were recorded in the study area. The group density was 0.33 groups / km² with a population density of 6 individuals/ km². The male to female adult sex ratio was 1:1.75 and the infant to female ratio was 0.85. The provisioned troop of Assamese monkey in Ramdi spent less time in feeding and movement while higher time was invested in resting and grooming than the nonspecific populations in the wild habitats. The human-monkey conflict is high in Ramdi, primarily due to the crop-raiding from fields and even the storage; the major crops raided are maize, vegetables, pulses and fruits. The higher reproductive success in terms of infant to adult female ratio, increased human-monkey conflicts and lesser investment of the diurnal time in foraging and feeding by Assamese monkey troop of Ramdi might be associated with the food provisioning. Journal of Institute of Science and TechnologyVolume 22, Issue 2, January 2018, Page: 183-190

Relationships between sperm morphological traits and sperm swimming performance in wild Great Tits (Parus major)

Sperm competition, the competition among rival males’ sperm for the fertilization of a given female’s set of ova, is a powerful selective force shaping male reproductive traits such as sperm performance. Sperm morphology, the size and shape of the different parts of a spermatozoon, plays a major role in sperm swimming performance with consequences for a male’s sperm competitive ability and reproductive success. However, despite important implications for the evolution of sperm traits and associated reproductive strategies, the intraspecific relationships between sperm morphology and sperm swimming performance remain unclear. Using wild Great Tits (Parus major), we quantified the among-male relationships between sperm morphological components and sperm swimming performance measured as sperm motility, sperm velocity, sperm swimming endurance, and sperm longevity. We also examined the within- and among-male relationships across sperm morphological traits. Sperm motility was positively correlated with sperm head length and sperm total length while sperm velocity was positively related to sperm midpiece length. In contrast, sperm swimming endurance and longevity were unrelated to any sperm morphological trait. We also observed positive among-male correlations among sperm morphological traits and substantial within-male variation in those traits, which potentially reflects antagonistic selection pressures acting on sperm morphology. Our study shows that sperm morphological components predict different aspects of sperm swimming performance in passerine birds though these relationships were rather weak. Overall, longer sperm morphological components were associated with faster and more motile sperm, which may transfer into higher reproductive success.

Exotic plant species receive adequate pollinator service despite variable integration into plant-pollinator networks.

Both exotic and native plant species rely on insect pollinators for reproductive success, and yet few studies have evaluated whether and how exotic plant species receive services from native pollinators for successful reproduction in their introduced range. Plant species are expected to successfully reproduce in their exotic range if they have low reliance on animal pollinators or if they successfully integrate themselves into resident plant-pollinator networks. Here, we quantify the breeding system, network integration, and pollen limitation for ten focal exotic plant species in North America. Most exotic plant species relied on animal pollinators for reproduction, and these species varied in their network integration. However, plant reproduction was limited by pollen receipt for only one plant species. Our results demonstrate that even poorly integrated exotic plant species can still have high pollination service and high reproductive success. The comprehensive framework considered here provides a method to consider the contribution of plant breeding systems and the pollinator community to pollen limitation, and can be applied to future studies to provide a more synthetic understanding of the factors that determine reproductive success of exotic plant species.