Pub Date : 2021-02-04DOI: 10.26786/1920-7603(2021)621
R. A. Behrstock
Asclepias angustifolia is a Mexican milkweed that barely enters the U.S.A. Its pollinators and other insect visitors have not been investigated. During 2018 and 2019, insect visitors were photographed at a native population and three gardens in and near the Huachuca Mountains, Southeastern Arizona. A total of 216 site visits produced at least 369 species of insects in seven orders. Images revealed 140 potential pollinators with a preponderance of Hymenoptera, Lepidoptera, and Diptera. Orders of insects are discussed, as are flowering phenology, potential pollinators in functional groups, introduced insects, and the value of A. angustifolia for monarch butterflies and other insects in pollinator gardens and in planting palettes created for restoration sites. NOTE: Supplementary files can be found in the left menu.
{"title":"EARLY VIEW: New records of pollinators and other insects associated with Arizona milkweed, Asclepias angustifolia , at four sites in Southeastern Arizona","authors":"R. A. Behrstock","doi":"10.26786/1920-7603(2021)621","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.26786/1920-7603(2021)621","url":null,"abstract":"Asclepias angustifolia is a Mexican milkweed that barely enters the U.S.A. Its pollinators and other insect visitors have not been investigated. During 2018 and 2019, insect visitors were photographed at a native population and three gardens in and near the Huachuca Mountains, Southeastern Arizona. A total of 216 site visits produced at least 369 species of insects in seven orders. Images revealed 140 potential pollinators with a preponderance of Hymenoptera, Lepidoptera, and Diptera. Orders of insects are discussed, as are flowering phenology, potential pollinators in functional groups, introduced insects, and the value of A. angustifolia for monarch butterflies and other insects in pollinator gardens and in planting palettes created for restoration sites. NOTE: Supplementary files can be found in the left menu.","PeriodicalId":30194,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Pollination Ecology","volume":"26 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2021-02-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"43751959","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2021-01-08DOI: 10.26786/1920-7603(2020)619
Priyanka Ambavane, Nikhil More, R. Borges
Floral larceny by bees has been studied mostly in open flowers although it is also experienced in buds. Until now, only few studies have recorded larceny of unopened flowers. In this study, we present behavioural observations of Apis and non-Apis bees exploiting Strobilanthes ixiocephala (Acanthaceae) buds for floral rewards. The bees pierce open the anterior end of the unopened buds to access pollen and nectar.
{"title":"Exploitation of Strobilanthes ixiocephala (Acanthaceae) flower buds by bees","authors":"Priyanka Ambavane, Nikhil More, R. Borges","doi":"10.26786/1920-7603(2020)619","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.26786/1920-7603(2020)619","url":null,"abstract":"Floral larceny by bees has been studied mostly in open flowers although it is also experienced in buds. Until now, only few studies have recorded larceny of unopened flowers. In this study, we present behavioural observations of Apis and non-Apis bees exploiting Strobilanthes ixiocephala (Acanthaceae) buds for floral rewards. The bees pierce open the anterior end of the unopened buds to access pollen and nectar.","PeriodicalId":30194,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Pollination Ecology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2021-01-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"45179426","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2021-01-08DOI: 10.26786/1920-7603(2020)609
K. Krakos, Matthew W. Austin
Pollinators are considered a major selective force in shaping the diversification of angiosperms. It has been hypothesized that convergent evolution of floral form has resulted in “pollination syndromes” - i.e. suites of floral traits that correspond to attraction of particular pollinator functional groups. Across the literature, the pollination syndrome concept has received mixed support. This may be due to studies using different methods to describe floral traits and/or the pollination syndrome concept being supported more often in species highly reliant on pollinators for reproduction. Here, we assess the predictive ability of pollination syndromes in Oenothera, a species rich clade with pollination systems existing on a gradient of specialization, and in which species are either self-compatible or self-incompatible. We ask the following questions: Do Oenothera species follow the pollination syndrome concept using traditional, categorical floral trait descriptions and/or quantitative floral trait measurements? And, are floral traits more predictive of primary pollinators in species with specialized pollination systems and/or species that are self-incompatible? Mapping floral traits of 54 Oenothera species into morphospace, we do not find support for the pollination syndrome concept using either categorical or quantitative floral trait descriptions. We do not find support for specialization or breeding system influencing the prediction of primary pollinators. However, we find pollination syndromes were more predictive in Oenothera species with moth pollination systems. Collectively, these results suggest that the pollination syndrome concept cannot be generally applied across taxa and that evolutionary history is important to consider when evaluating the relationship between floral form and contemporary pollinators.
{"title":"Testing Pollination Syndromes in Oenothera (Onagraceae)","authors":"K. Krakos, Matthew W. Austin","doi":"10.26786/1920-7603(2020)609","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.26786/1920-7603(2020)609","url":null,"abstract":"Pollinators are considered a major selective force in shaping the diversification of angiosperms. It has been hypothesized that convergent evolution of floral form has resulted in “pollination syndromes” - i.e. suites of floral traits that correspond to attraction of particular pollinator functional groups. Across the literature, the pollination syndrome concept has received mixed support. This may be due to studies using different methods to describe floral traits and/or the pollination syndrome concept being supported more often in species highly reliant on pollinators for reproduction. Here, we assess the predictive ability of pollination syndromes in Oenothera, a species rich clade with pollination systems existing on a gradient of specialization, and in which species are either self-compatible or self-incompatible. We ask the following questions: Do Oenothera species follow the pollination syndrome concept using traditional, categorical floral trait descriptions and/or quantitative floral trait measurements? And, are floral traits more predictive of primary pollinators in species with specialized pollination systems and/or species that are self-incompatible? Mapping floral traits of 54 Oenothera species into morphospace, we do not find support for the pollination syndrome concept using either categorical or quantitative floral trait descriptions. We do not find support for specialization or breeding system influencing the prediction of primary pollinators. However, we find pollination syndromes were more predictive in Oenothera species with moth pollination systems. Collectively, these results suggest that the pollination syndrome concept cannot be generally applied across taxa and that evolutionary history is important to consider when evaluating the relationship between floral form and contemporary pollinators. ","PeriodicalId":30194,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Pollination Ecology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2021-01-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"44036139","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2021-01-01DOI: 10.26786/1920-7603(2021)641
Julie A. Weissmann, Iris R. M. Walldorf, H. Schaefer
While urban beekeeping is on the rise, data on the role of wild bee communities as crop pollinators in cities is still scarce. We analysed wild bee visitation rates on apple, plum, cherry, pear, blackberry, raspberry, and strawberry in a Bavarian city with a very high honeybee density of c. 19 hives/km2. During 137.5 hours of observation time, we observed 52 wild bee species on the studied crop plants. During more than 50 h of observation time on fruit trees in flower, we found that wild bees provided 41% of the total bee visits, honeybees the remaining 59%. Honeybee hive density had a significantly negative effect on wild bee abundance. Bumblebees appeared more tolerant to poor weather conditions than all other bee groups. Wild bee species richness on apple flowers was not significantly impacted by flower diversity in the surroundings of the trees. Together, our results suggest that species-rich wild bee communities in urban areas are important for pollination success in common fruit crops, especially under unstable spring weather conditions. Bee-friendly management of urban spaces should be prioritised to support wild bee communities as well as the increasing number of honeybees in cities.
{"title":"The importance of wild bee communities as urban pollinators and the influence of honeybee hive density","authors":"Julie A. Weissmann, Iris R. M. Walldorf, H. Schaefer","doi":"10.26786/1920-7603(2021)641","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.26786/1920-7603(2021)641","url":null,"abstract":"While urban beekeeping is on the rise, data on the role of wild bee communities as crop pollinators in cities is still scarce. We analysed wild bee visitation rates on apple, plum, cherry, pear, blackberry, raspberry, and strawberry in a Bavarian city with a very high honeybee density of c. 19 hives/km2. During 137.5 hours of observation time, we observed 52 wild bee species on the studied crop plants. During more than 50 h of observation time on fruit trees in flower, we found that wild bees provided 41% of the total bee visits, honeybees the remaining 59%. Honeybee hive density had a significantly negative effect on wild bee abundance. Bumblebees appeared more tolerant to poor weather conditions than all other bee groups. Wild bee species richness on apple flowers was not significantly impacted by flower diversity in the surroundings of the trees. Together, our results suggest that species-rich wild bee communities in urban areas are important for pollination success in common fruit crops, especially under unstable spring weather conditions. Bee-friendly management of urban spaces should be prioritised to support wild bee communities as well as the increasing number of honeybees in cities.","PeriodicalId":30194,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Pollination Ecology","volume":"10 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2021-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"69126617","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2021-01-01DOI: 10.26786/1920-7603(2021)620
D. Stanley, E. Cosnett
Fuchsia magellanica (Ongaraceae) is a plant with a traditionally ornithopholous pollination system, pollinated primarily by hummingbirds in its native range. As a naturalised alien plant in Ireland, F. magellanica is visited largely by bumblebees, with evidence for nectar robbing behaviour of the long-tubed flowers. We aimed to investigate nectar robbing behaviour of bumblebees on F. magellanica, and in particular whether floral and pollinator traits (size) determined likelihood of nectar robbing. While F. magellanica was visited by a number of bumblebee species, only two with shorter tongue lengths were observed to rob nectar from flowers. Although there was no observed relationship between intra-specific bee body size and nectar robbing behaviour, nectar robbing was observed most frequently in the site with the highest number of bees. Proportions of robbed flowers were low overall and varied between populations, but there was a significant relationship between flower size and whether it was nectar robbed with larger flowers robbed more often. Our work suggests that floral size determines whether a flower-visitor will choose to nectar rob or not in this system. Nectar robbing may also be related to bee density which could suggest this behaviour is driven by competition for resources, or that it is learnt by observing other bees.
{"title":"Catching the thief: Nectar robbing behaviour by bumblebees on naturalised Fuchsia magellanica in Ireland","authors":"D. Stanley, E. Cosnett","doi":"10.26786/1920-7603(2021)620","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.26786/1920-7603(2021)620","url":null,"abstract":"Fuchsia magellanica (Ongaraceae) is a plant with a traditionally ornithopholous pollination system, pollinated primarily by hummingbirds in its native range. As a naturalised alien plant in Ireland, F. magellanica is visited largely by bumblebees, with evidence for nectar robbing behaviour of the long-tubed flowers. We aimed to investigate nectar robbing behaviour of bumblebees on F. magellanica, and in particular whether floral and pollinator traits (size) determined likelihood of nectar robbing. While F. magellanica was visited by a number of bumblebee species, only two with shorter tongue lengths were observed to rob nectar from flowers. Although there was no observed relationship between intra-specific bee body size and nectar robbing behaviour, nectar robbing was observed most frequently in the site with the highest number of bees. Proportions of robbed flowers were low overall and varied between populations, but there was a significant relationship between flower size and whether it was nectar robbed with larger flowers robbed more often. Our work suggests that floral size determines whether a flower-visitor will choose to nectar rob or not in this system. Nectar robbing may also be related to bee density which could suggest this behaviour is driven by competition for resources, or that it is learnt by observing other bees.","PeriodicalId":30194,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Pollination Ecology","volume":"1 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2021-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"69126359","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2021-01-01DOI: 10.26786/1920-7603(2021)640
Pryce W. Millikin, Samuel B. Case, C. Tarwater
The extinction of native species and introduction of non-native species may lead to the disruption of biotic interactions. Pollination is a critical ecosystem process that often requires mutualisms between animals and plants. Non-native animals may interact with native flowering plants, with the potential to pollinate or steal nectar (larceny) from flowers without pollination. In the Hawaiian Islands, many native plants have lost their original pollinators. Birds and insects are known to visit native plant flowers, but it is unclear whether they pollinate or steal nectar, whether native and non-native species differ in their interactions with flowers, and what influences visitation to flowers. On Oʻahu, we deployed camera traps and conducted in-person observations on four at-risk species of Hawaiian lobelioids (Campanulaceae). We observed birds, mammals, and insects visiting flowers, with a native bird and native bee visiting most frequently. Regardless of native versus non-native status, bees made contact with reproductive structures during most visits (90.5% of visits), while birds stole nectar during most visits (99.3% of visits). Bee and bird visitation increased with the number of flowers on focal plants. Bird visitation also increased with canopy cover and the number of nearby conspecific flowers and decreased with the number of nearby heterospecific flowers. Our results indicate that bees may pollinate plants that were historically bird-pollinated, while native and non-native birds have neutral or negative impacts on these plants. Broadly, we contribute to an understanding of how native plant pollination can be altered in changing ecosystems.
{"title":"Pollination and nectar larceny by birds and bees in novel forests of the Hawaiian Islands","authors":"Pryce W. Millikin, Samuel B. Case, C. Tarwater","doi":"10.26786/1920-7603(2021)640","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.26786/1920-7603(2021)640","url":null,"abstract":"The extinction of native species and introduction of non-native species may lead to the disruption of biotic interactions. Pollination is a critical ecosystem process that often requires mutualisms between animals and plants. Non-native animals may interact with native flowering plants, with the potential to pollinate or steal nectar (larceny) from flowers without pollination. In the Hawaiian Islands, many native plants have lost their original pollinators. Birds and insects are known to visit native plant flowers, but it is unclear whether they pollinate or steal nectar, whether native and non-native species differ in their interactions with flowers, and what influences visitation to flowers. On Oʻahu, we deployed camera traps and conducted in-person observations on four at-risk species of Hawaiian lobelioids (Campanulaceae). We observed birds, mammals, and insects visiting flowers, with a native bird and native bee visiting most frequently. Regardless of native versus non-native status, bees made contact with reproductive structures during most visits (90.5% of visits), while birds stole nectar during most visits (99.3% of visits). Bee and bird visitation increased with the number of flowers on focal plants. Bird visitation also increased with canopy cover and the number of nearby conspecific flowers and decreased with the number of nearby heterospecific flowers. Our results indicate that bees may pollinate plants that were historically bird-pollinated, while native and non-native birds have neutral or negative impacts on these plants. Broadly, we contribute to an understanding of how native plant pollination can be altered in changing ecosystems.","PeriodicalId":30194,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Pollination Ecology","volume":"1 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2021-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"69126539","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2021-01-01DOI: 10.26786/1920-7603(2021)638
Carter P. Adamson, A. Iler
Open top chambers (OTCs) are a popular method for studying the biological effects of climate change through passive heating, but their effects on biotic interactions are poorly understood, especially for pollination. Here we use the subalpine plants Delphinium nuttallianum and Potentilla pulcherrima to examine the possibility that the effects of OTCs on plant reproduction are not the result of warming but rather OTCs acting as barriers to pollinator movement. Pollinator observations were conducted and stigmas collected from plants inside and outside of OTCs in a meadow in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado, USA. Very few visitors were observed inside of OTCs, which led to severe reductions in visitation rates, by 92% in Delphinium and 85% in Potentilla. The number of conspecific pollen grains on stigmas was 73% lower in OTCs for Delphinium but not Potentilla, likely because it is capable of autogamous self-pollination. This study clearly shows that OTCs can reduce animal pollination, which is also likely to reduce plant reproductive output of outcrossing plants via decreases in the quantity or quality of pollen. OTCs may therefore confound effects of warming on plant reproduction with pollination effects. Although the unintended effects of OTCs on abiotic conditions are well-studied, this study highlights that their effects on biotic interactions require further investigation.
{"title":"Open-top warming chambers reduce animal pollination of two subalpine herbs","authors":"Carter P. Adamson, A. Iler","doi":"10.26786/1920-7603(2021)638","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.26786/1920-7603(2021)638","url":null,"abstract":"Open top chambers (OTCs) are a popular method for studying the biological effects of climate change through passive heating, but their effects on biotic interactions are poorly understood, especially for pollination. Here we use the subalpine plants Delphinium nuttallianum and Potentilla pulcherrima to examine the possibility that the effects of OTCs on plant reproduction are not the result of warming but rather OTCs acting as barriers to pollinator movement. Pollinator observations were conducted and stigmas collected from plants inside and outside of OTCs in a meadow in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado, USA. Very few visitors were observed inside of OTCs, which led to severe reductions in visitation rates, by 92% in Delphinium and 85% in Potentilla. The number of conspecific pollen grains on stigmas was 73% lower in OTCs for Delphinium but not Potentilla, likely because it is capable of autogamous self-pollination. This study clearly shows that OTCs can reduce animal pollination, which is also likely to reduce plant reproductive output of outcrossing plants via decreases in the quantity or quality of pollen. OTCs may therefore confound effects of warming on plant reproduction with pollination effects. Although the unintended effects of OTCs on abiotic conditions are well-studied, this study highlights that their effects on biotic interactions require further investigation.","PeriodicalId":30194,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Pollination Ecology","volume":"1 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2021-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"69126382","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2021-01-01DOI: 10.26786/1920-7603(2021)651
T. Tetreault, Ken A. Aho
Exclosures are a common method for quantifying the effects of animal pollinators on flowering plant species. However, a lack of standardized designs or clear descriptions of previously implemented exclosure designs decreases replicability in pollination studies and reduces scientific rigor. We summarized previous descriptions of pollination exclosure designs, and developed/tested a novel exclosure design in alpine environments on the Beartooth Plateau in northern Wyoming, USA. This exclosure design consists of a cylindrical internal wire frame, integrated ground stakes, and various mesh materials attached to the exterior. Exclosures on the plateau showed high efficacy in inhibiting insects from pollinating flowering plants, and nearly all of these exclosures remained functional throughout the time they were in place. Our updated exclosure design is effective, inexpensive, easy to produce, and widely applicable across differing ecosystems and experimental design types.
{"title":"An updated insect exclosure design for pollination ecology","authors":"T. Tetreault, Ken A. Aho","doi":"10.26786/1920-7603(2021)651","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.26786/1920-7603(2021)651","url":null,"abstract":"Exclosures are a common method for quantifying the effects of animal pollinators on flowering plant species. However, a lack of standardized designs or clear descriptions of previously implemented exclosure designs decreases replicability in pollination studies and reduces scientific rigor. We summarized previous descriptions of pollination exclosure designs, and developed/tested a novel exclosure design in alpine environments on the Beartooth Plateau in northern Wyoming, USA. This exclosure design consists of a cylindrical internal wire frame, integrated ground stakes, and various mesh materials attached to the exterior. Exclosures on the plateau showed high efficacy in inhibiting insects from pollinating flowering plants, and nearly all of these exclosures remained functional throughout the time they were in place. Our updated exclosure design is effective, inexpensive, easy to produce, and widely applicable across differing ecosystems and experimental design types.","PeriodicalId":30194,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Pollination Ecology","volume":"1 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2021-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"69126663","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}