Network rewiring and species turnover stabilize plant–pollinator interactions across habitats and seasons in dry forest

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Abstract Mutualistic interactions between plants and pollinators are fundamental to biodiversity maintenance and ecosystem resilience, yet their dynamics across space and time in tropical dry forests have not been widely examined. We analyzed plant–pollinator networks across seasons and habitat types in the highly seasonal and fragmented dry forest of Puerto Rico, to assess how diversity, network structure, and species roles contribute to network stability. Over 35 months, standardized observations and video recordings documented 126 plant species and 154 taxa of floral visitors across shrublands, disturbed habitats, and forests during dry and rainy seasons. Networks exhibited strong spatiotemporal variation: Shrublands supported the highest plant and pollinator richness and formed the largest, most connected, and most nested networks, especially during the rainy season. In contrast, forest networks were smaller, more specialized, and more modular, particularly in the dry season, indicating higher vulnerability. Most species functioned as peripheral specialists; however, a few generalists, especially the non‐native bee species Apis mellifera , played central roles as hubs and connectors. Although these generalists enhance short‐term stability, their dominance may reduce interaction diversity and threaten long‐term network resilience. Interaction dissimilarity was high among habitats and between seasons, with interaction rewiring as the dominant driver. This capacity for rewiring allows networks to maintain cohesion despite environmental fluctuations, enhancing resilience and buffering against potential disruptions. However, the relative importance of rewiring versus species turnover varied: Forest networks depended more on species turnover, whereas shrubland and disturbed habitats relied more on rewiring and showed greater functional redundancy. Our results show that Caribbean dry forest pollination networks are dynamic and resilient, largely sustained by rewiring among generalist species. Conservation strategies should prioritize habitat heterogeneity and support native pollinators to maintain functional diversity and reduce reliance on non‐native generalists. By highlighting the critical role of interaction flexibility, this study advances understanding of mutualistic network persistence in seasonal, disturbance‐prone tropical systems and informs conservation strategies aimed at sustaining pollination services under changing environmental conditions.

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