Migratory species roles across latitudinal gradients: A network perspective

When we aggregate data to build plant-pollinator networks, we are assuming that the functional role played by a particular species within a community is constant. Migratory species, by mimicking the temporary loss of a species, offer us the unique opportunity to study how species roles change in response to shifts in species composition. Further, given their widespread distribution across species diversity gradients, they allow us to assess the role of biodiversity in shaping these community reorganizations. Here, we show an example of this approach using a migratory hummingbird and the communities that host it along a biodiversity gradient.