How many flowering plants are pollinated by animals?
Abstract
It is clear that the majority of flowering plants are pollinated by insects and other animals, with a minority utilising abiotic pollen vectors, mainly wind. However there is no accurate published calculation of the proportion of the ca 352 000 species of angiosperms that interact with pollinators. Widely cited figures range from 67% to 96% but these have not been based on firm data. We estimated the number and proportion of flowering plants that are pollinated by animals using published and unpublished community‐level surveys of plant pollination systems that recorded whether each species present was pollinated by animals or wind. The proportion of animal‐pollinated species rises from a mean of 78% in temperate‐zone communities to 94% in tropical communities. By correcting for the latitudinal diversity trend in flowering plants, we estimate the global number and proportion of animal pollinated angiosperms as 308 006, which is 87.5% of the estimated species‐level diversity of flowering plants. Given current concerns about the decline in pollinators and the possible resulting impacts on both natural communities and agricultural crops, such estimates are vital to both ecologists and policy makers. Further research is required to assess in detail the absolute dependency of these plants on their pollinators, and how this varies with latitude and community type, but there is no doubt that plant–pollinator interactions play a significant role in maintaining the functional integrity of most terrestrial ecosystems.
Integrity signals
Registry
Cites
Statistics
Claims the paper makes
Claims other papers make about this one
Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?
Insects play a central role in pollination, herbivory and detrivory, nutrient cycling, and providing a food source for higher trophic levels.
“Loss of insects is certain to have adverse effects on ecosystem functioning, as insects play a central role in a variety of processes, including pollination [1, 2], herbivory and detrivory [3, 4], nutrient cycling [4] and providing a food source for higher trophic levels such as birds, mammals and amphibians.”
From More than 75 percent decline over 27 years in total flying insect biomass in protected areas (2017) · cites this paper as [2]
Loss of insects is certain to have adverse effects on ecosystem functioning.
“Loss of insects is certain to have adverse effects on ecosystem functioning, as insects play a central role in a variety of processes, including pollination [1, 2], herbivory and detrivory [3, 4], nutrient cycling [4] and providing a food source for higher trophic levels such as birds, mammals and amphibians.”
From More than 75 percent decline over 27 years in total flying insect biomass in protected areas (2017) · cites this paper as [2]
Cites
Importance of pollinators in changing landscapes for world crops
Klein, A., Vaissière, B., Cane, J. H., Steffan-Dewenter, I. D., Cunningham, S. A., Kremen, C., & Tscharntke, T. (2006) · Proceedings of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences · doi:10.1098/rspb.2006.3721 · Cited by 7,211 · see citing works
Nature's Services: Societal Dependence on Natural Ecosystems
Pharo, E. J., & Daily, G. C. (1998) · The Bryologist · doi:10.2307/3244191 · Cited by 5,299 · see citing works
Parallel Declines in Pollinators and Insect-Pollinated Plants in Britain and the Netherlands
Biesmeijer, J. C., Roberts, S. P. M., Reemer, M., Ohlemüller, R., Edwards, M., Peeters, T., Schaffers, A. P., Potts, S. G., Kleukers, R., Thomas, C. D., et al. (2006) · Science · doi:10.1126/science.1127863 · Cited by 3,189 · see citing works
Economic valuation of the vulnerability of world agriculture confronted with pollinator decline
Gallai, N., Salles, J.-M., Settele, J., & Vaissière, B. E. (2009) · Ecological Economics · doi:10.1016/j.ecolecon.2008.06.014 · Cited by 2,955 · see citing works
On the Generality of the Latitudinal Diversity Gradient
Hillebrand, H. (2004) · The American Naturalist · doi:10.1086/381004 · Cited by 2,067 · see citing works
ENDANGERED MUTUALISMS: The Conservation of Plant-Pollinator Interactions
Kearns, C., Inouye, D., & Waser, N. (1998) · Annual Review of Ecology and Systematics · doi:10.1146/annurev.ecolsys.29.1.83 · Cited by 1,872 · see citing works
Is There a Latitudinal Gradient in the Importance of Biotic Interactions?
Schemske, D. W., Mittelbach, G. G., Cornell, H. V., Sobel, J. M., & Roy, K. (2009) · Annual Review of Ecology Evolution and Systematics · doi:10.1146/annurev.ecolsys.39.110707.173430 · Cited by 1,204 · see citing works
A meta-analysis of bees’ responses to anthropogenic disturbance
Winfree, R., Aguilar, R., Vázquez, D. P., LeBuhn, G., & Aizen, M. A. (2009) · Ecology · doi:10.1890/08-1245.1 · Cited by 1,050 · see citing works
Self-citationHow much does agriculture depend on pollinators? Lessons from long-term trends in crop production
Aizen, M. A., Garibaldi, L. A., Cunningham, S. A., & Klein, A. (2009) · Annals of Botany · doi:10.1093/aob/mcp076 · Cited by 753 · see citing works
Global patterns of plant diversity and floristic knowledge
Kier, G., Mutke, J., Dinerstein, E., Ricketts, T. H., Küper, W., Kreft, H., & Barthlott, W. (2005) · Journal of Biogeography · doi:10.1111/j.1365-2699.2005.01272.x · Cited by 624 · see citing works
Dynamics of Tropical Communities
Newton, A. (1999) · Journal of Applied Ecology · doi:10.1046/j.1365-2664.1999.04464.x · Cited by 518 · see citing works
Plant–pollinator Interactions: From Specialization To Generalization
del Rio, C. M. (2006) · Ornithological Applications · doi:10.1093/condor/108.4.986 · Cited by 466 · see citing works
Decline of bumble bees (Bombus) in the North American Midwest
Grixti, J. C., Wong, L. T., Cameron, S. A., & Favret, C. (2008) · Biological Conservation · doi:10.1016/j.biocon.2008.09.027 · Cited by 435 · see citing works
Buzziness as usual? Questioning the global pollination crisis
Ghazoul, J. (2005) · Trends in Ecology & Evolution · doi:10.1016/j.tree.2005.04.026 · Cited by 410 · see citing works
La Selva: ecology and natural history of a neotropical rain forest
(1994) · Choice Reviews Online · doi:10.5860/choice.32-0296 · Cited by 386 · see citing works
Momose, K., Yumoto, T., Nagamitsu, T., et al. (1998) · American Journal of Botany · doi:10.2307/2446404 · Cited by 369 · see citing works
Colla, S. R., & Packer, L. A. D. T. (2008) · Biodiversity and Conservation · doi:10.1007/s10531-008-9340-5 · Cited by 360 · see citing works
Year‐to‐year variation in the topology of a plant–pollinator interaction network
Alarcón, R., Waser, N., & Ollerton, J. (2008) · Oikos · doi:10.1111/j.0030-1299.2008.16987.x · Cited by 354 · see citing works
Self-citationPollination decays in biodiversity hotspots
Vamosi, J. C., Knight, T. M., Steets, J. A., et al. (2006) · Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences · doi:10.1073/pnas.0507165103 · Cited by 327 · see citing works
Kosior, A., Celary, W., Olejniczak, P., Fijał, J., Król, W., Solarz, W., & Płonka, P. (2007) · Oryx · doi:10.1017/s0030605307001597 · Cited by 281 · see citing works
Floral Traits and Pollination Systems in the Caatinga, a Brazilian Tropical Dry Forest
Machado, I. C. (2004) · Annals of Botany · doi:10.1093/aob/mch152 · Cited by 264 · see citing works
PHYLOGENETIC ANALYSIS OF TRAIT EVOLUTION AND SPECIES DIVERSITY VARIATION AMONG ANGIOSPERM FAMILIES
Dodd, M. E., SILVERTOWN, J. W., & Chase, M. W. (1999) · Evolution · doi:10.1111/j.1558-5646.1999.tb05367.x · Cited by 250 · see citing works
Pollination Relationships in Southern Spanish Mediterranean Shrublands
Herrera, J. (1988) · Journal of Ecology · doi:10.2307/2260469 · Cited by 191 · see citing works
Paton, A. J., Brummitt, N. A., Govaerts, R., Harman, K. T., Hinchcliffe, S., Allkin, B., & Lughadha, E. N. (2008) · Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research) · doi:10.2307/25066027 · Cited by 180 · see citing works
Bernardello, G., Anderson, G. J., Stuessy, T. F., & Crawford, D. J. (2001) · The Botanical Review · doi:10.1007/bf02858097 · Cited by 179 · see citing works
Services Provided by Pollinators
Nabhan, G. P., & Buchmann, S. L. (2012) · Princeton University Press eBooks · doi:10.2307/jj.41003514.13 · Cited by 157 · see citing works
Reproductive dynamics of four plant communities of southwestern British Columbia
Pojar, J. (1974) · Canadian Journal of Botany · doi:10.1139/b74-234 · Cited by 115 · see citing works
Tropical forest phenology and pollinator plant coevolution
Frankie, G. W. (1975) · University of Texas Press eBooks · doi:10.7560/710313-010 · Cited by 103 · see citing works
Flowers and insects; lists of visitors of four hundred and fifty-three flowers
Robertson, C. (1928) · doi:10.5962/bhl.title.11538 · Cited by 95 · see citing works
Plant‐pollinator interactions in New Caledonia influenced by introduced honey bees
Katô, M., & Kawakita, A. (2004) · American Journal of Botany · doi:10.3732/ajb.91.11.1814 · Cited by 84 · see citing works
Pollination in a degraded tropical landscape: a Hong Kong case study
Corlett, R. T. (2001) · Journal of Tropical Ecology · doi:10.1017/s0266467401001109 · Cited by 78 · see citing works
van Dulmen, A. (2001) · Forestry sciences · doi:10.1007/978-94-017-3606-0_7 · Cited by 73 · see citing works
Reproductive traits of tropical rain-forest trees in New Caledonia
Carpenter, R. J., Read, J., & Jaffré, T. (2003) · Journal of Tropical Ecology · doi:10.1017/s0266467403003407 · Cited by 69 · see citing works
Pollination biology in a palm swamp community in the Venezuelan Central Plains
Ramírez, N., & Brito, Y. (1992) · Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society · doi:10.1111/j.1095-8339.1992.tb00294.x · Cited by 60 · see citing works
Effects of habitat fragmentation on plant pollinator interactions in the tropics.
Renner, S., Newbery, D. M., Prins, H. H. T., et al. (1998) · Cited by 57 · see citing works
van Dulmen, A. (2001) · Plant Ecology · doi:10.1023/a:1017577305193 · Cited by 48 · see citing works
Floral Ecology in Relation to Plant Species Diversity in the Wasatch Mountains of Utah and Idaho
Ostler, W. K., & Harper, K. T. (1978) · Ecology · doi:10.2307/1938788 · Cited by 46 · see citing works
POLLINATION ECOLOGY IN MONTANE COLORADO USA A COMMUNITY ANALYSIS
Moldenke, A. R., & Lincoln, P. G. (1979) · Digital Commons - USU (Utah State University) · doi:10.5281/zenodo.16130812 · Cited by 40 · see citing works
Kato, M., Matsumoto, M., & Kato, T. (1993) · Institutional Repositories DataBase (IRDB) · Cited by 40 · see citing works
Flowers and Insects in Great Britain PART IV.1
Willis, J. C., & BURKILL, I. H. (1908) · Annals of Botany · doi:10.1093/oxfordjournals.aob.a089192 · Cited by 36 · see citing works
Katô, M. (2000) · Institutional Repositories DataBase (IRDB) · Cited by 34 · see citing works
The pollination biology of a pavement plain: pollinator visitation patterns
O’Brien, M. H. (1980) · Oecologia · doi:10.1007/bf00346823 · Cited by 24 · see citing works
Moldenke, A. R., & Ar, M. (1979) · Phytologia · Cited by 24 · see citing works
Willis, J. C., & BURKILL, I. H. (1903) · Annals of Botany · doi:10.1093/oxfordjournals.aob.a088931 · Cited by 21 · see citing works
Flowers and Insects in Great Britain. PART I
Willis, J. C., & BURKILL, I. H. (1895) · Annals of Botany · doi:10.1093/oxfordjournals.aob.a090737 · Cited by 21 · see citing works
Yamazaki, K., & Katô, M. (2003) · Institutional Repositories DataBase (IRDB) · Cited by 20 · see citing works
Flowers and Insects in Great Britain. PART II1
Willis, J. C., & BURKILL, I. H. (1903) · Annals of Botany · doi:10.1093/oxfordjournals.aob.a088919 · Cited by 17 · see citing works
Advances in the pollination biology of South African plants
Johnson, S. D., Manning, J. C., & Pauw, A. (2009) · South African Journal of Botany · doi:10.1016/j.sajb.2009.09.003 · Cited by 5 · see citing works
Flagged first, then by citations
Cited by
Sorted by citations
More than 75 percent decline over 27 years in total flying insect biomass in protected areas
Hallmann, C. A., Sorg, M., Jongejans, E., Siepel, H., Hofland, N., Schwan, H., Stenmans, W., Müller, A., Sumser, H., Hörren, T., et al. (2017) · PLOS ONE · doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0185809 · Cited by 3,499 · see citing works
Plant-Pollinator Interactions over 120 Years: Loss of Species, Co-Occurrence, and Function
Burkle, L. A., Marlin, J. C., & Knight, T. M. (2013) · Science · doi:10.1126/science.1232728 · Cited by 1,118 · see citing works
Scheper, J., Holzschuh, A., Kuussaari, M., Potts, S. G., Rundlöf, M., Smith, H. G., & Kleijn, D. (2013) · Ecology Letters · doi:10.1111/ele.12128 · Cited by 502 · see citing works
Extinctions of aculeate pollinators in Britain and the role of large-scale agricultural changes
Ollerton, J., Erenler, H., Edwards, M., & Crockett, R. (2014) · Science · doi:10.1126/science.1257259 · Cited by 431 · see citing works
Self-citationScheper, J., Reemer, M., van Kats, R., Ozinga, W. A., van der Linden, G. T. J., Schaminée, J. H. J., Siepel, H., & Kleijn, D. (2014) · Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences · doi:10.1073/pnas.1412973111 · Cited by 357 · see citing works
Single pollinator species losses reduce floral fidelity and plant reproductive function
Brosi, B. J., & Briggs, H. M. (2013) · Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences · doi:10.1073/pnas.1307438110 · Cited by 347 · see citing works
Interactive effects of climate and land use on pollinator diversity differ among taxa and scales
Ganuza, C., Redlich, S., Uhler, J., Tobisch, C., Rojas-Botero, S., Peters, M. K., Zhang, J., Benjamin, C. S., Englmeier, J., Ewald, J., et al. (2022) · Science Advances · doi:10.1126/sciadv.abm9359 · Cited by 101 · see citing works
Duque, L., Poelman, E. H., & Steffan-Dewenter, I. (2021) · Environmental Pollution · doi:10.1016/j.envpol.2020.115953 · Cited by 43 · see citing works
Masui, N., Agathokleous, E., Mochizuki, T., Tani, A., Matsuura, H., & Koike, T. (2021) · Journal of Forestry Research · doi:10.1007/s11676-020-01287-4 · Cited by 38 · see citing works
- Authors
- Ollerton, J., Winfree, R., & Tarrant, S.
- Affiliations
- University of Northampton (GB)
- Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (GB)
- Corresponding author
- Ollerton, Jeff
- Venue
- Oikos
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2011-02-21
- Volume
- 120
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 321-326
- ISSN
- 0030-1299 (ISSN-L)
- 1600-0706
- OpenAlex
- W2109158012
- Cited by
- 3,874
- References
- 48
- Citations by year
- 2026: 305 · 2025: 434 · 2024: 383 · 2023: 444 · 2022: 400 · 2021: 369 · 2020: 300 · 2019: 266 · 2018: 192 · 2017: 191 · 2016: 168 · 2015: 118 · 2014: 119 · 2013: 94 · 2012: 53
- FWCI
- 101.64
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Oikos (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics › Plant and animal studies
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Nature and Landscape Conservation › Ecology and Vegetation Dynamics Studies
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Genetics › Insect and Arachnid Ecology and Behavior
- Keywords
- animal pollination, flowering plants, plant-pollinator interactions, wind pollination, pollinator decline, latitudinal diversity gradient
About these checks
Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.
Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.
Confidence bands are shown only for fields calibrated on our annotated test set. None is calibrated yet, so no band is shown.
What counts as a claim ›How we measure confidence ›How we check this ›
Are you an author, or do you see a problem with this page? Request a review
