Université de Fribourg

Impact of flower-dwelling crab spiders on plant-pollinator mutualisms

Brechbühl, Rolf ; Kropf, Christian ; Bacher, Sven

In: Basic and Applied Ecology, 2009///10.1016/j.baae.2009.07.001

Indirect effects in interactions occur when a species influences a third species by modifying the behaviour of a second one. It has been suggested that indirect effects of crab spiders (Thomisidae) on pollinator behaviour can cascade down the food web and negatively affect plant fitness. However, it is poorly understood how different pollinator groups react to crab spiders and, thus, when a...