The pollination network of Campanula sabatia De Not.

Chiara Bonifazio ¹, Mattia Longobardi ¹, Silvia Tripi ¹, Ian Briozzo ¹, Maria Guerrina ¹, Gabriele Casazza ¹, Gianalberto Losapio ², Luigi Minuto ¹

Università di Genova ¹, Université de Lausanne; Università degli studi di Milano ²

Conservation actions, especially with regard to endemic plant species, are often species-based, but it has been long recognized that species conservation initiatives must consider the multitude of ecological interactions in which species are involved, such as those with pollinators. In particular, this work aimed at understanding the role of an endemic species within the pollination network. The target species is Campanula sabatia De Not., endemic to the SW Alps and listed in Annex II of the Habitats Directive. The study area was a site of reintroduction of C. sabatia within Life SeedForce Project. In an area of approximately 500 m2, ten 1 m2 plots were established at a distance of at least 2 metres from each other. Vegetation surveys and direct observation of flower visitors were performed before (2023) and after (2024) reintroduction. After the first summer of observation, in December 2023 five C. sabatia plants per plot were planted in five out of ten plots. Each observed insect was recorded together with the flowering plant visited. During the two field-season, we reached 95 hours of observation and 2056 insects detected. The differences between 2023 and 2024 in terms of alpha, beta and gamma diversity do not appear to be related to the reintroduction of C. sabatia, but rather to a difference in flowering plants due to the peculiarity of the season. However, PLS-DA shows a clear differentiation in the visitors’ pool between plots with and without C. sabatia. Our preliminary results suggest that rare species might play a role within the pollination network.

Main author career stage: PhD student

Contribution type: Talk

First choice session: 2. Ecology

Second choice session: 3. Biodiversity and global change