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Abstract Detail



Pollination Biology

DeMariano, Audra [1], Krakos , Kyra Neipp [2], Hoch, Peter [3], Miller, Nicole [4].

Historical Pollen Data as a Comparative Tool in Climate Change Studies.

Analysis of comparative historical data can help predict future plant-pollinator associations as the climate continues to change community dynamics of an ecosystem. In general, detailed records on past pollination interactions to evaluate these potential problems are rare and incomplete. However, pollen loads from historical insect collections can offer comparative data that is valuable for analyzing the changes in plant-pollinator interactions. This project assesses the use of historical pollen data as an informative comparative tool in understanding the impact of climate change on pollination. We used historical plant and pollinator data to answer the following questions: Is there a correlation between age of specimen and the size of the pollen load? Is there a difference in the diversity of the pollen load that correlates to age of the insect? The Shaw Nature Reserve at Missouri Botanical Garden and the Enn’s Museum of Entomology at the University of Missouri-Columbia host a collection of historical and current pollinators. Pollen was removed using a heated glycerin gel that does not damage the historical sample. Slides are then examined using a fluorescent microscope for pollen count and notes on species diversity of pollen observed in the sample. We found no statistical correlation (p = 0.072) between the year the insect was collected and the amount of pollen present in the sample. Our results further demonstrate that there was an increase in the pollen diversity per insect, potentially due to an increase of co-blooming species influenced by climate change effects.


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1 - Maryville University, Biology , 3608 Roy Avenue, St. John's, MO, 63114, USA
2 - Maryville University, Biology, 650 Maryville University, St Louis, MO, 63141, USA
3 - Missouri Botanical Garden, P.O. Box 299, St. Louis, MO, 63166-0299, USA
4 - University Of Missouri, Biology, 110 Tucker Hall, St. Louis, MO, 65211, USA

Keywords:
historical
pollen
pollination
conservation biology.

Presentation Type: Oral Paper:Papers for Topics
Session: 32
Location: Firs South/Boise Centre
Date: Wednesday, July 30th, 2014
Time: 8:00 AM
Number: 32001
Abstract ID:398
Candidate for Awards:None


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