Geographic variation in resistance to nectar robbing and consequences for pollination
| Autor: | Lynn S. Adler, Lissa M. Leege, Rebecca E. Irwin |
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| Rok vydání: | 2016 |
| Předmět: |
0106 biological sciences
Georgia Insecta Pollination Plant Nectar Plant Science Flowers Biology 010603 evolutionary biology 01 natural sciences Plant reproduction Pollinator Genetics Animals Nectar robbing Symbiosis Ecology Evolution Behavior and Systematics Resistance (ecology) Ecology fungi food and beverages Attraction Biological Evolution Gelsemium Robbing Animal Distribution 010606 plant biology & botany |
| Zdroj: | American journal of botany. 103(10) |
| ISSN: | 1537-2197 |
| Popis: | Premise of the study Floral evolution is frequently ascribed to selection by pollinators, but may also be shaped by antagonists. However, remarkably few studies have examined geographic mosaics in resistance to floral antagonists or the consequences for other floral interactions. Methods Gelsemium sempervirens experiences frequent nectar robbing in northern Georgia, but rarely in southern Georgia. We conducted common-garden experiments in both locations using genotypes from each region and measured robbing, pollinator attraction, floral attractive and defensive traits, and plant reproduction. Key results Nectar robbing was more than four times higher in the north vs. south, and pollinator visits did not differ between gardens. Across both gardens, northern genotypes were half as likely to be nectar-robbed but received half as many pollinator visits as southern genotypes, suggesting evolution of resistance to robbing at a cost of reduced pollinator attraction. Plant-level traits, such as height and number of flowers, were more closely associated with resistance to robbing than floral size, shape, or chemistry. Northern genotypes had lower female and estimated male reproduction compared to southern genotypes at both locations, which could be due to costs of resistance to nectar robbing, or costs of adaptations to other biotic or abiotic differences between regions. Conclusions Our study indicates that geographic variation can play a strong role structuring interactions with floral antagonists and mutualists and provides evidence consistent with the hypothesis that local resistance to nectar robbing imposes costs in terms of decreased pollinator attraction and reproduction. |
| Databáze: | OpenAIRE |
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