Landscape composition and pollinator traits interact to influence pollination success in an individual‐based model

The arrangement of plant species within a landscape influences pollination via changes in pollinator movement trajectories and plant–pollinator encounter rates. Yet the combined effects composition traits (especially specialisation) on success remain hard to quantify empirically. We used an individual-based model explore how specialisation (degree) interact influence pollination. modelled variation by generating gradients intermixing—from no mixing complete intermixing. Furthermore, we varied level simulating (six eight species) networks different connectance. then compared impacts these drivers three proxies for pollination: visitation rate, number consecutive visits focal expected plants pollinated. found that spatial arrangements degree determine success, depends is estimated. For most pollinators, rate increases more mixed landscapes. Compared two functional measures pollination, overestimates service. This particularly severe landscapes with high intermixing generalist pollinators. Interestingly, less influenced (pollinator body size) than are metrics, likely because ‘visitation rate’ ignores order which pollinators visit plants. However, sequence crucial pollinated, since only prior conspecific individuals can contribute show here this strongly plants, interaction between them. Taken together, our findings suggest commonly proxy network studies, should be complemented metrics reflect frequency individual revisit same species. Our also structure such as density—in combination pollinators' specialism—can improve estimates probability Read free Plain Language Summary article Journal blog.