We consider the mutualistic interaction between plants that are completely dependent upon animal pollinators for reproduction, and pollinators that for at least part of their life cycle are obligate exploiters of plants. An analytical model is developed to examine relationships between species diversities of the two groups. Using this model, we show that equilibrium numbers of plant and pollinator species may be established. This equilibrium is primarily dependent upon the sizes of plant and pollinator species pools, rates of encounter and extinction, and the enhancement of survivorship due to plant-pollinator interactions. We further establish that diversity of the equilibrium assemblage is unique, but species composition is not. Finally, conditions are derived which must be met to confer stability on the plant-pollinator community.
1. httroduction
A major feature of evolution has been the development of plant-animal interdependence. This relationship is most apparent when the pollination biology of angiosperms is considered. Pollination has long been studied by both botanists and zoologists, but the two groups have tended to function independently. As a consequence, the literature is replete with lists of pollinators for plant species and food plants for pollinators, but little has been