Plant-pollinator coextinctions: A case study of Encephalartos species

South Africa is a centre for cycad diversity, yet the majority of cycads are threatened with extinction as a result of over-collecting and the destruction of their natural habitat. Furthermore, the lack of natural recruitment in several local populations is a concern. It may be that female and male trees become isolated as a result of small populations, or perhaps the absence of pollinators. Most cycad species are pollinated by highly specialised insects. During this study, we collected arthropods associated with the critically endangered Encephalartos eugene-maraisii complex from South Africa. We recorded several cycad-associated arthropods, but many crucial arthropod associations, including pollinators, were absent from smaller local populations. Natural regeneration of these populations under field conditions is completely absent. A small population may not produce enough cones, which could lead to local pollinator extinctions. Conservation actions need to integrate the ecological requirements of the cycads and the associated pollinators to ensure the sustainability of the complex local pollination web. This study represents the interactions between endangered cycad species and missing crucial arthropod services in previously understudied areas as well as new research questions and techniques. We suggest an urgent need for intervention to conserve both arthropods and this endangered cycad species as the extinction of both is looming.