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Seed set differs in relation to pollen and nectar foraging flower visitors in an insect-pollinated herb

Author

  • Markus Franzén
  • Magnus Larsson

Summary, in English

Assessing the relative contributions to seed sets of each of a plant species' floral visitors provides an indication of the relative influence of these visitors on the plants' reproductive success. In this study we compared the seed set of the gynodioecious Knautia arvensis (Dipsacaceae) in 49 local plant populations in two regions of southern Sweden. We measured the seed set for hermaphroditic and female plant individuals. In both plant sexes and both regions, the seed set was positively related to the abundance of Apidae. The seed set was negatively related to the abundance of pollen-foraging solitary bees (Halictidae, Megachilidae) and beetles (Oedemeridae, Malachidae). The seed set was not related to plant population size, plant density or female frequency. Our results confirm that pollination success in generalised plant-pollinator systems varies between pollinator groups. Flower-visitors foraging for pollen might not contribute to increased pollination success in generalised pollination systems.

Publishing year

2009

Language

English

Pages

274-283

Publication/Series

Nordic Journal of Botany

Volume

27

Issue

4

Document type

Journal article

Publisher

Wiley-Blackwell

Topic

  • Ecology

Status

Published

ISBN/ISSN/Other

  • ISSN: 0107-055X