The global pattern we observed suggests that plant species in species-rich regions exhibit a greater reduction in fruit production due to insufficient pollination than plant species in regions of lower biodiversity. |
The pattern raises the alarm, however, that species in species-rich regions face two challenges that increase the risk of extinction: habitat destruction, which is occurring at alarming rates in the tropics, and reduced pollinator activity. |
The pattern raises the alarm, however, that these species face two challenges that increase the risk of extinction: habitat destruction, which is occurring at alarming rates in the tropics, and reduced pollinator activity. |
This is truly a synthetic work. Our detection of global patterns required the simultaneous analysis of many studies conducted independently by plant ecologists all over the world. |
We don't know how long this pattern has existed because the kind of field experiment needed to detect the problem of low pollen transfer has been conducted by ecologists only for the last 25-30 years or so. |