EuPPollNet: A European Database of Plant‐Pollinator Networks
Authors: Lanuza Jose B. , Knight Tiffany M. , Montes‐Perez Nerea , Glenny Will , Acuña Paola , Albrecht Matthias , Artamendi Maddi , Badenhausser Isabelle , Bennett Joanne M. , Biella Paolo , Bommarco Ricardo , Cappellari Andree , Castro Sílvia , Clough Yann , Colom Pau , Costa Joana , Cyrille Nathan , de Manincor Natasha , Dominguez‐Lapido Paula , Dominik Christophe , Dupont Yoko L. , Feldmann Reinart , Felten Emeline , Ferrero Victoria , Fiordaliso William , Fisogni Alessandro , Fitzpatrick Úna , Galloni Marta , Gaspar Hugo , Gazzea Elena , Goia Irina , Gómez‐Martínez Carmelo , González‐Estévez Miguel A. , González‐Varo Juan Pedro , Grass Ingo , Hadrava Jiří , Hautekèete Nina , Hederström Veronica , Heleno Ruben , Hervias‐Parejo Sandra , Heuschele Jonna M. , Hoiss Bernhard , Holzschuh Andrea , Hopfenmüller Sebastian , Iriondo José M. , Jauker Birgit , Jauker Frank , Jersáková Jana , Kallnik Katharina , Karise Reet , Kleijn David , Klotz Stefan , Krausl Theresia , Kühn Elisabeth , Lara‐Romero Carlos , Larkin Michelle , Laurent Emilien , Lázaro Amparo , Librán‐Embid Felipe , Liu Yicong , Lopes Sara , López‐Núñez Francisco , Loureiro João , Magrach Ainhoa , Mänd Marika , Marini Lorenzo , Mas Rafel Beltran , Massol François , Maurer Corina , Michez Denis , Molina Francisco P. , Morente‐López Javier , Mullen Sarah , Nakas Georgios , Neuenkamp Lena , Nowak Arkadiusz , O'Connor Catherine J. , O'Rourke Aoife , Öckinger Erik , Olesen Jens M. , Opedal Øystein H. , Petanidou Theodora , Piquot Yves , Potts Simon G. , Power Eileen F. , Proesmans Willem , Rakosy Demetra , Reverté Sara , Roberts Stuart P. M. , Rundlöf Maj , Russo Laura , Schatz Bertrand , Scheper Jeroen , Schweiger Oliver , Serra Pau Enric , Siopa Catarina , Smith Henrik G. , Stanley Dara , Ştefan Valentin , Steffan‐Dewenter Ingolf , Stout Jane C. , Sutter Louis , Švara Elena Motivans , Świerszcz Sebastian , Thompson Amibeth , Traveset Anna , Trefflich Annette , Tropek Robert , Tscharntke Teja , Vanbergen Adam J. , Vilà Montserrat , Vujić Ante , White Cian , Wickens Jennifer B. , Wickens Victoria B. , Winsa Marie , Zoller Leana , Bartomeus Ignasi 
Published: February 2025

Motivation

Pollinators play a crucial role in maintaining Earth's terrestrial biodiversity. However, rapid human‐induced environmental changes are compromising the long‐term persistence of plant‐pollinator interactions. Unfortunately, we lack robust, generalisable data capturing how plant‐pollinator communities are structured across space and time. Here, we present the EuPPollNet (European Plant‐Pollinator Networks) database, a fully open European‐level database containing harmonised taxonomic data on plant‐pollinator interactions referenced in both space and time, along with other ecological variables of interest. In addition, we evaluate the taxonomic and sampling coverage of EuPPollNet, and summarise key structural properties in plant‐pollinator networks. We believe EuPPollNet will stimulate research to address data gaps in plant‐pollinator interactions and guide future efforts in conservation planning.

Main Types of Variables Included

EuPPollNet contains 1,162,109 interactions between plants and pollinators from 1864 distinct networks, which belong to 52 different studies distributed across 23 European countries. Information about sampling methodology, habitat type, biogeographic region and additional taxonomic rank information (i.e. order, family, genus and species) is also provided.

Spatial Location and Grain

The database contains 1214 different sampling locations from 13 different natural and anthropogenic habitats that fall in 7 different biogeographic regions. All records are geo‐referenced and presented in the World Geodetic System 1984 (WGS84).

Time Period and Grain

Species interaction data was collected between 2004 and 2021.

Major Taxa and Level of Measurement

The database contains interaction data at the species level for 94% of the records, including a total of 1411 plant and 2223 pollinator species. The database includes data on 6% of the European species of flowering plants, 34% of bees, 26% of butterflies and 33% of syrphid species at the European level.

Software Format

The database was built with R and is stored in ‘.rds’ and ‘.csv’ formats. Its construction is fully reproducible and can be accessed at: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.14747448.