Insect communities of the Congolese peat swamp forests

Insects are by far the largest and most diverse group of multicellular organisms on Earth, but worldwide trends point towards sharp declines in abundance and diversity in many groups and systems. One important group are the pollinating insects, yet most research on pollinator decline and its functional consequences is focussed on a tiny subset of pollinator diversity. I will address this knowledge gap by constructing pollinator networks for the newly discovered peat swamp forest ecosystems of the Congo Basin, the first ever data on the insects of these ecosystems. Research into the relative importance of diurnal and nocturnal pollinators and comparison of these communities with those of terra firme rainforest will provide insight into network structure and ecosystem functioning - and potential consequences of species loss. Odonata communities form a second focal group to allow for assessments of differences in diversity patterns between terrestrial and partially aquatic species. Trait-based approaches will be used to understand shifts in community structure across forest types and the environmental filters in place. This work will provide crucial insight into ecosystem functioning dynamics in tropical forests, the importance of nontraditional pollinators for functioning, and how environmental gradients may impact pollination services in a changing natural world.