Abstract:

With Pajek, a program for analysis and visualization of large networks, topologies of plant-insect pollinator interaction networks were constructed at the different taxa levels, and the change in patterns of interaction networks was studied. The results showed that patterns were different at the different taxa levels. The frequency distributions of species degree for insect pollinators and flowering plants were right-skewed at the species level. The insect pollinators and flowering plants with more than 1 links accounted for high proportion, with only a few species higher links, and the mean species degree for plants was higher than that of insect pollinator in plant-insect pollinator interaction networks in subalpine meadows. There was obvious lack of super generalized species indicating that phenological or morphologic mismatching between plant and insect pollinator forbad links between them. The frequency distributions of species degree for insect pollinators at the order level were different from that at the species level, however, generalized insect orders were also dominant. It is thus clear that studies on network patterns at the different levels would contribute to uncovering organization mechanism of pollination networks, and understanding that conservation on keystone insect pollinators or flowering plants with higher links is vital to maintain pollination system in subalpine meadows in Changbai Mountain.

Key words: flowering plant, insect pollinator, interaction networks, pattern, species degree, Pajek