2026/07/01 by Maisie Brett, Nsovo Happiness Baloyi, Ian P. Vaughan +1 · 1 voice
Agricultural and Biological Sciences · Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology · Environmental Science · #Ecology and Vegetation Dynamics Studies #Insect and Arachnid Ecology and Behavior #Plant and animal studies
paper · pdf · doi:10.1093/biolinnean/blag042
openalex publication_date 2026/07/01 · openalex created_date 2026/07/07 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/30
Abstract Floral nectar availability varies seasonally, creating potential hunger gaps or deficits for nectar-feeding species. Invasive flowering plants may supplement nectar supplies in introduced ranges and stabilize availability over time, but this effect remains poorly quantified. Here we quantify landscape-scale nectar provision across three vegetation types in South African Fynbos, modelling how habitat diversity and three invasive Eucalyptus species influence temporal nectar stability for pollinators. Fortnightly surveys at 24 sites recorded flowering phenology and nectar production for 159 native plant species and three invasive Eucalyptus species. Adding 10 Eucalyptus trees per hectare of natural vegetation increased temporal nectar stability by 11–26% and total nectar availability by up to 94%. Eucalyptus camaldulensis flowered during otherwise nectar-poor periods, reducing seasonal ‘hunger gaps’ for pollinators. Across all vegetation types, a small subset of native species contributed the majority of nectar resources. Mathematical simulations further showed that access to multiple vegetation types significantly enhanced nectar stability, highlighting the importance of habitat heterogeneity for pollinators. Together, these findings provide a framework for estimating nectar provision at landscape scales and demonstrate how native plant diversity, alongside carefully managed non-native species, can help sustain pollinators in changing environments.