Abstract Detail

Pollination Biology

Barrios Roque , Beyte  [1], KOPTUR, SUZANNE [2], Pena, Sean Ryan [2].

Pollination biology in fragmented populations of Angadenia berteroi a native perennial plant of the south Florida pine rocklands.

Angadenia berteroi is a tropical perennial subshrub with large yellow flowers that set very few fruits in its native pine rockland habitat. The flowers open early in the morning (prior to sunrise) and have a complex floral arrangement (the anthers form a conical structure surrounding the stigma, which has a secondary pollen presentation) that promotes outcrossing from visits by long-tongued pollinators. In this study, we identify the effective pollinator species, estimate the visitation frequency and efficiency for each pollinator species, and investigate their relative contribution to fecundity. Our field observations show that skippers (Hesperiidae) are the most frequent visitors (43%) at the four sites where we have made extensive observations of flowers; bees (29%), metallic bees (17%) and larger butterflies (10%) have also been observed visiting these flowers. We have observed that skippers and butterflies often re-visit the same flowers, while bees rarely return to a previously visited flower. Although we predicted that butterflies would be the best pollinators (as has been demonstrated in other Apocynaceae with similar pollination mechanisms), bees seem to carry large quantities of pollen on their shorter, wider probosces. There is a correlation between size of the mouthparts of the pollinator with pollen transfer efficiency. Bee visits (that transfer more pollen to flowers distant from the pollen donors) are likely to be the most important for fruit set in this self-incompatible species.

1 - Florida International University, Deparment of Biological Science, 11200 SW 8 st, Miami, FL, 33199, USA
2 - Florida International University, Department Of Biological Sciences, 11200 SW 8th St, Miami, FL, 33199, USA

Keywords:
pollination
Apocynaceae
Pine Rocklands 
Pollen transfer efficiency.

Presentation Type: Oral Paper:Papers for Topics
Session: 40
Location: Firs South/Boise Centre
Date: Wednesday, July 30th, 2014
Time: 2:00 PM
Number: 40003
Abstract ID:116
Candidate for Awards:None