秦王川湿地盐角草和盐地碱蓬种群的空间格局及其关联性

植物种群的空间格局及关联性是植物种群生态学特性对环境条件长期适应和选择的结果。在秦王川国家湿地公园盐沼湿地,利用群落学调查法和点格局分析法,按照盐角草(Salicornia europaea)植株密度依次设置高密度Ⅰ(800株·m~(-2))、中密度Ⅱ(400~800株·m~(-2))和低密度Ⅲ(400株·m~(-2))3个密度梯度样地,分析了盐角草和盐地碱蓬(Suaeda salsa)种群的空间格局及其关联性。结果表明:随着盐角草植株密度的减小,其植株高度和地上生物量呈逐渐减小的趋势(P0.05),盐地碱蓬的植株高度和地上生物量呈逐渐增大的趋势(P0.05);盐角草在样地Ⅰ和Ⅲ中呈不同尺度的聚集分布,聚集尺度由较小尺度向小尺度过渡,在样地Ⅱ中所有尺度上呈聚集分布;盐地碱蓬在样地Ⅰ所有尺度上呈聚集分布,在样地Ⅱ和Ⅲ的聚集分布由较小尺度向中尺度过渡;在样地Ⅰ中,盐角草和盐地碱蓬之间表现为负相关和不相关(P0.05),在样地Ⅲ中表现为不相关,在样地Ⅱ中从负相关过渡到正相关(P0.05)。湿地植物密度调控机制影响下的非对称竞争关系,引起群落优势物种发生更替,反映了植物适应环境变化的生活史策略。     

三江平原沼泽湿地4种优势植物空间格局对不同水位环境的响应

水文过程是沼泽湿地最基本的生态过程, 理解物种空间格局形成机制及其种群特征随水位环境变化的规律对于科学指导沼泽湿地植被恢复具有重要意义。本研究分别选择三江平原季节性积水与常年积水沼泽, 应用点格局方法中的完全空间随机模型、泊松聚块模型和嵌套双聚块模型分析了毛薹草(Carex lasiocarpa)、漂筏薹草(C. pseudocuraica)、狭叶甜茅(Glyceria spiculosa)、小叶章(Deyeuxia angustifolia) 4个主要优势植物种群的空间格局, 并测定了不同水位环境条件下的种群密度和个体大小特征。结果表明: 在沼泽湿地中, 4个优势种群在0-200 cm的尺度范围内都偏离了完全随机模型, 表现为集体性聚集分布特征, 且聚集距离主要集中在0-50 cm之间。随着水位的升高, 毛薹草种群密度、个体生物量、株高和基径都呈显著增大趋势, 但其聚集强度变弱; 而小叶章种群密度和个体大小则显著降低, 其聚集强度增大; 漂筏薹草和狭叶甜茅种群密度、个体大小和聚集强度变化并不显著。在季节性积水区, 4个物种在小尺度上均偏离了泊松聚块模型, 符合嵌套双聚块模型, 即在大聚块中分布较高密度的小聚块。但是, 在常年积水区, 仅毛薹草、漂筏薹草和狭叶甜茅3个物种符合嵌套双聚块模型, 而小叶章种群则符合泊松聚块模型, 说明在高水位胁迫下小叶章种群空间格局的大聚块中不存在较高密度的小聚块。综上所述,水位环境胁迫主要通过影响繁殖分配、种内竞争、易化作用以及个体大小变异等生物学过程共同决定着三江平原淡水沼泽湿地植物种群的斑块化分布特征, 不同零模型可以帮助解释种群空间分布格局的形成机制。     

黄河河口盐沼植被分布、多样性与土壤化学因子的相关关系

以黄河河口盐沼实地调查的67个样地19个植物种的重要值,运用双向指示种分析将黄河河口盐沼植被分为柽柳-翅碱蓬+补血草+碱蓬群落、翅碱蓬群落、柽柳-芦苇+翅碱蓬群落、芦苇群落、穗状狐尾藻+芦苇群落和旱柳-芦苇+荻群落.利用典范对应分析(CCA)分析了土壤盐分、pH、Na+、K+、Ca2+、Mg2+、Cl-、全氮、全磷、全碳、有机质等11个土壤化学因子与黄河河口盐沼植被分布的相关关系.CCA排序结果表明,土壤盐分和土壤pH是影响黄河河口盐沼植被分布的主要土壤化学因子.CCA排序第一轴与土壤盐分呈显著正相关关系(P<0.001),第二轴主要和土壤pH呈显著负相关关系(P<0.001).柽柳-翅碱蓬+补血草+碱蓬群落排列于排序图的右上部,与生境土壤中高含盐量及中等pH相对应,穗状狐尾藻+芦苇群落和芦苇群落分布于第一排序轴的最左端,主要与土壤低含盐量相关,翅碱蓬群落位于第二排序轴的下侧, 与较高的土壤pH相关,柽柳-芦苇+翅碱蓬群落和旱柳-芦苇+荻群落,土壤pH和盐分均较低.通过物种丰富度R、香农维纳多样性H′、物种均匀度E等指数与土壤化学因子的相关分析,发现黄河河口盐沼植物物种多样性与土壤盐分没有呈现出与土壤盐分很好的负相关关系,物种丰富度R、香农维纳多样性H′、物种均匀度E均与土壤盐分呈现显著正相关关系;R、H′与土壤pH呈现出十分显著的负相关关系; R、H′与土壤Ca2+、Mg2+含量呈现极为显著正相关关系.     

大凌河口湿地水盐梯度下翅碱蓬的生态阈值

基于大凌河口湿地翅碱蓬生物量、密度、株高、株重等生物指标之间极显著的相关性,选取生物量为指标,研究不同土壤理化因子条件下,翅碱蓬种群分布的变化规律。结果表明:翅碱蓬生物量自然对数分别与土壤盐分、水分含量之间具有极显著的一元二次曲线拟合关系,表明翅碱蓬群落分布受土壤水分、盐分的影响;用高斯模型求解出大凌河口湿地翅碱蓬随土壤水盐变化的生态阈值,翅碱蓬的最适土壤盐分为12.14 g·kg-1,生态阈值区间为5.02~19.26 g·kg-1,最适生态阈值区间为8.58~15.70 g·kg-1;翅碱蓬最适土壤水分为59.82%,生态阈值区间为22.02%~97.62%,最适生态阈值区间为40.92%~78.72%。上述研究结论为河口湿地翅碱莲生境保护与植被修复提供了科学依据。     

黄河三角洲滨海湿地芦苇、碱蓬混生群落空间点格局分析

为了解黄河三角洲滨海湿地芦苇、碱蓬群落内的种群相互关系、多样的生态策略, 通过重复取样的调查方法, 运用多种汇总统计函数分析了黄河入海口处以黄河河道为基轴向北延伸至海边的三个不同区域的芦苇和碱蓬混生种群的种群结构和空间点格局。结果表明: 黄河边碱蓬和芦苇在全部尺度上趋于聚集分布; 中部滩涂湿地碱蓬在2-35 cm尺度上呈现聚集分布, 在1cm以及36-45cm尺度上呈现随机分布, 在其他尺度呈现均匀分布,芦苇在3-4 cm以及15 cm、20 cm尺度上呈现聚集分布, 其他尺度上呈现随机分布; 近海区域碱蓬在全部尺度上呈现随机分布, 芦苇在0-16 cm、21-25 cm以及44-46 cm尺度上呈现随机分布, 在其他尺度呈现聚集分布。黄河边芦苇和碱蓬种群种间关系趋于负相关, 种群之间相互排斥, 在中部滩涂湿地和近海区域两种群无关联, 仅在近海区域28-31 cm尺度出现正相关关系。黄河边两种植物的点格局分布以及种间关系与其他两个区域存在明显差异,需进一步开展相关实验深入了解黄河三角洲滨海湿地环境因素对芦苇、碱蓬混生群落点格局的影响。     

水、盐梯度下黄河三角洲湿地植物种的生态位

利用排序等方法将黄河三角洲湿地19个植物种在水深和土壤盐分梯度下依次排列，并分别划分为低、中、高水深（或土壤盐分）3个生态种组，分析了水、盐梯度下植物种的生态位宽度和生态位重叠.结果表明:水深梯度下，芦苇、盐地碱蓬等中水深生态种组植物种生态位宽度较大，香蒲、穗状狐尾藻等高水深生态种组植物种生态位宽度最小；土壤盐分梯度下，盐地碱蓬、柽柳等高土壤盐分生态种组植物种生态位宽度较大，而中、低土壤盐分生态种组的植物种生态位宽度均较小.水深和土壤盐分梯度下的生态位重叠分别沿着植物种在两种梯度上的排序而规律变化，通常同一生态种组内部植物种的生态位重叠较大，不同生态种组植物种的生态位重叠较小.黄河三角洲湿地植物种在水深、土壤盐分梯度下的生态位分化现象，可能有助于阐释湿地植物共存及带状分布的形成机制.     

基于不同零模型的三江平原沼泽湿地主要物种小尺度点格局分析

在三江平原沼泽湿地,基于不同零模型的点格局方法,研究了常年积水环境条件下沼泽湿地主要优势种毛苔草、漂筏苔草、狭叶甜茅以及小叶章种群的空间分布格局特征。结果表明:在0—200cm尺度范围内4种物种基本都偏离完全随机模型,表现为聚集分布,但偏离的程度不同;除了数量最少的小叶章种群外,其他3种物种都在一定尺度上偏离了泊松聚块模型;毛苔草和狭叶甜茅种群在极小尺度上偏离嵌套双聚块模型,但不显著,而漂筏苔草种群在所有尺度上符合嵌套双聚块模型。种群的实测值偏离完全随机模型的程度越大,越有可能符合符合泊松聚块模型,偏离泊松聚块模型的程度越大,越有可能符合嵌套双聚块模型。4种物种在0—200cm尺度范围内形成的聚块是由营养繁殖引起的,多个分株系统组成大聚块,而每个分株系统形成一个小聚块,聚块的形成加剧了种内竞争,使得种群的聚集强度降低。     

松嫩平原两种碱蓬群落土壤种子库通量及幼苗死亡的分析

角碱蓬和翅碱蓬都是１ａ生耐碱性较强的藜科植物。在松嫩平原碱化草甸２个固定的单优碱蓬群落土壤中有活力种子的数量动态和种群动态的研究结果表明：土壤种子库存量在尚未萌发输出以前为最大,角碱蓬群落为２２２６０粒／ｍ＾２,翅碱蓬群落为３７２３０粒／ｍ＾２。整个生长季均有种子输出,２群落的种子库存率随着时间呈渐近形式规律地下降。现存植株数量角碱蓬种群以５月上旬最大,为１９４８０株／ｍ＾２,翅碱蓬则在４月上旬最     

Effect of daily salinity fluctuation on the intraspecific interactions of a euhalophyte (Suaeda salsa) along a salinity gradient

每日盐度波动对真盐生植物盐地碱蓬种内相互作用沿盐度梯度的影响 土壤盐度的异质性是河口潮间带的一个突出的环境特征,影响植物的生长和盐沼中生物相互作用的转变。本研究旨在探究盐度梯度和盐度波动对一种真盐生植物的种内相互作用的交互影响。     

盐胁迫下3种滨海盐生植物的根系生长和分布

我国广大滨海地区的盐土上发育着大量的盐生植物,这些植物的根系对维持土壤稳定性,减小风蚀和水蚀具有重要作用。在水培条件下,针对碱蓬、盐角草和盐地碱蓬3种滨海盐生植物,研究它们在不同盐浓度条件下根系分布的差异。结果表明:一定浓度的盐分可以促进3种盐生植物生长,但较高浓度的盐抑制其生长,特别是对根系生长的抑制作用更大。在同样盐浓度下,盐地碱蓬的生长最快,生物量也最大。在盐分浓度较低时,3种盐生植物的主根长和总根长都有所增加,与对照相比,盐角草增加的幅度较大,但高浓度的盐会抑制根系总长度的增加,其中盐角草较碱蓬和盐地碱蓬抑制的程度轻。盐分对3种植物的根系平均直径没有显著的影响,但有减小的趋势。在水培条件下,碱蓬和盐角草的根系上、中、下部分布的较均匀,而盐地碱蓬的根系中部比上部和下部有显著的增加,盐分对每种植物的根系的分布没有显著的影响。从根系的分布特征可以推断:盐角草比碱蓬和盐地碱蓬具有较强的抗盐性和耐瘠薄能力;碱蓬的耐盐能力较其它两种植物差,盐角草的耐盐性最强。根据3种滨海盐生植物的根系生长和分布特征,证明这3种植物的根系分属于2种功能型,碱蓬是浅根系功能型,盐角草和盐地碱蓬是深根系功能型。根系分布的参数表明3种滨海盐生植物中盐地碱蓬是用来加强土壤稳定性最好的植物。     

辽宁碱蓬根际土壤真菌多样性的季节变化及其耐盐性

采用稀释平板法和形态学鉴定法进行了辽宁碱蓬(Suaeda liaotungensis)根际土壤真菌的分离鉴定及季节、盐度对真菌多样性的影响分析。结果表明:春、夏、秋、冬四季辽宁碱蓬根际土壤中的真菌菌落数分别为6410、4180、5730和3340,种类分别为6属13种、9属16种、11属31种、6属12种,共分离鉴定出13属42种真菌;其根际土壤真菌的多样性指数、丰富度指数和均匀度指数,从大到小的次序均为秋夏春冬,3种指数均在秋季达到峰值;多样性指数和丰富度指数差异较大,均匀度指数波动较小,春季和冬季的均匀度指数相近。辽宁碱蓬根际土壤真菌种类明显多于无植被土壤,是无植被土壤的7倍,多样性指数和均匀度指数分别是无植被土壤的4—8倍和1—1.2倍;其根际土壤真菌优势种群包括青霉属(Penicillium)、葡萄穗霉属(Stachybotrys)、枝孢属(Cladosporium)、木霉属(Trichoderma)、曲霉属(Aspergillus)和镰孢属(Fusarium);4个季节的优势菌不尽相同,但均有一个共同的优势菌属青霉属。以Na Cl浓度梯度法制造盐胁迫生境,检测辽宁碱蓬根际土壤真菌对盐胁迫的响应,结果表明:60%左右的菌种能耐受5%以下盐度、15%左右的菌种能耐10%—20%盐度;筛选出了6株高度耐盐菌:细交链孢霉、草酸青霉、产黄青霉、烟曲霉、细极链格孢和赭曲霉,其中最高耐盐菌种赭曲霉可耐20%盐度。创新之处在于以盐度和季节为变量检测辽宁碱蓬根际土壤真菌的种群构成,为其深入研究奠定了理论基础。     

Ecological thresholds of Suaeda salsa to the environmental gradients of water table depth and soil salinity

The responses of Suaeda salsa to the environmental gradients of water table depth and soil salinity in the Yellow River Delta, China were analyzed from the aspect of ecological thresholds which were developed from the Gaussian model. Based on the correlation analysis of population biomass, density, height, coverage and abundance of Suaeda salsa, population biomass was selected as the population index for further analysis. The results indicated that the optimum water table depth for the growth of Suaeda salsa was about −0.42 m, the ecological thresholds were from −0.92 m to 0.08 m, and the optimum ecological thresholds were from −0.67 m to −0.17 m. To the soil salinity gradient, the optimum was about 12.71 g/kg, the ecological thresholds were from 5.17 g/kg to 20.25 g/kg, and the optimum ecological thresholds were from 8.94 g/kg to 16.48 g/kg. However, the effect of water-salinity interaction seemed to be important to the growth of Suaeda salsa, which was discussed through analyzing the water table depth-soil salinity relationship and their interactions. By using Ward cluster analysis and Gamma distances, 69 sampling sites were classified into 7 kinds of Suaeda salsa communities. It was found that there was a remarkable response of the community structure of Suaeda salsa to the water table depth and soil salinity gradients, which can be a switchover from xeromorphic and saline-alkali plants to limnophytes, and vice versa.     

Leptokurtic pollen-flow,non-leptokurtic gene-flow in a wind-pollinated herb,Plantago lanceolata L.

Summary The purpose of this study was to simultaneously measure pollen dispersal distance and actual pollen-mediated gene-flow distance in a wind-pollinated herb, Plantago lanceolata. The pollen dispersal distribution, measured as pollen deposition in a wind tunnel, is leptokurtic, as expected from previous studies of wind-pollinated plants. Gene-flow, measured as seeds produced on rows of male-sterile inflorescences in the wind tunnel, is non-leptokurtic, peaking at an intermediate distance. The difference between the two distributions results from the tendency of the pollen grains to cluster. These pollen clusters are the units of gene dispersal, with clusters of intermediate and large size contributing disproportionately to gene-flow. Since many wind-pollinated species show pollen clustering (see text), the common assumption for wind-pollinated plants that gene-flow is leptokurtic requires re-examination. Gene-flow was also measured in an artifical outdoor population of male-steriles, containing a single pollen source plant in the center of the array. The gene flow distribution is significantly platykurtic, and has the same general properties outdoors, where wind speed and turbulence are uncontrolled, as it does in the wind tunnel. I estimated genetic neighborhood size based on my measure of gene-flow in the outdoor population. The estimate shows that populations of Plantago lanceolata will vary in effective number from a few tens of plants to more than five hundred plants, depending on the density of the population in question. Thus, the measured pollen-mediated gene-flow distribution and population density will interact to produce effective population sizes ranging from those in which there is no random genetic drift to those in which random genetic drift plays an important role in determining gene frequencies within and among populations. Despite the platykurtosis in the distribution, pollen-mediated gene dispersal distances are still quite limited, and considerable within and among-population genetic differentiation is to be expected in this species.     

Ecological thresholds of Suaeda salsa to the environmental gradients of water table depth and soil salinity

The responses of Suaeda salsa to the environmental gradients of water table depth and soil salinity in the Yellow River Delta, China were analyzed from the aspect of ecological thresholds which were developed from the Gaussian model. Based on the correlation analysis of population biomass, density, height, coverage and abundance of Suaeda salsa, population biomass was selected as the population index for further analysis. The results indicated that the optimum water table depth for the growth of Suaeda salsa was about ?0.42 m, the ecological thresholds were from ?0.92 m to 0.08 m, and the optimum ecological thresholds were from ?0.67 m to ?0.17 m. To the soil salinity gradient, the optimum was about 12.71 g/kg, the ecological thresholds were from 5.17 g/kg to 20.25 g/kg, and the optimum ecological thresholds were from 8.94 g/kg to 16.48 g/kg. However, the effect of water-salinity interaction seemed to be important to the growth of Suaeda salsa, which was discussed through analyzing the water table depth-soil salinity relationship and their interactions. By using Ward cluster analysis and Gamma distances, 69 sampling sites were classified into 7 kinds of Suaeda salsa communities. It was found that there was a remarkable response of the community structure of Suaeda salsa to the water table depth and soil salinity gradients, which can be a switchover from xeromorphic and saline-alkali plants to limnophytes, and vice versa.     

Genetic structure and AFLP variation of remnant populations in the rare plant Pedicularis palustris (Scrophulariaceae) and its relation to population size and reproductive components

We investigated plant reproduction in relation to genetic structure, population size, and habitat quality in 13 populations of the rare biennial plant Pedicularis palustris with 3-28500 flowering individuals. We used AFLP (amplified fragment length polymorphism) profiles to analyze genetic similarities among 129 individuals (3-15 per population). In a cluster analysis of genetic similarities most individuals (67%) were arranged in population-specific clusters. Analysis of molecular variance indicated significant genetic differentiation among populations and among and within subpopulations (P < 0.001). Gene flow (N(e) m) was low (0.298). On average, plants produced 55 capsules, 17 seeds per fruit, and 42 seedlings in the following growing season. The number of seeds per capsule was independent of population size and of genetic variability. In contrast, the number of capsules per plant (P < 0.05) and the number of seedlings per plant (P < 0.05) were positively correlated with population size. The relation between population size and the number of seeds per plant was not significant (P = 0.075). The number of capsules and of seeds and seedlings per plant (P < 0.01) were positively correlated with genetic variability. Genetic variability was independent of actual population size, suggesting that historical population processes have to be taken into account, too. Stepwise multiple regressions revealed additional significant relationships of habitat parameters (soil pH, C:N ratio), vegetation composition, and standing crop on reproductive components. We conclude that populations of P. palustris are genetically isolated and that reproductive success most likely is influenced by population size, genetic variability, and habitat quality. Management strategies such as moderate grazing, mowing, and artificial gene flow should endeavor to increase population size as well as genetic variation.     

Response to long- and short-term salinity in populations of the C4 nonhalophyte Andropogon glomeratus Walter B.S.P.

Summary This research was undertaken to investigate differences in salt tolerance under conditions in which salinity is increased gradually and maintained for long periods or increased rapidly and maintained for shorter periods. The responses of populations of a C₄ nonhalophytic grass, Andropogon glomeratus, to long- and short-term salinity were measured under controlled environment conditions. Additionally, plants from a salt marsh population and an inland population were transplanted into a salt marsh and their survival compared. The relative growth reductions in the salt marsh and the inland populations under long-term salinity were similar. Survival of seedlings of 4 populations inundated with full-strength seawater over a relatively short period indicated differential capacities to tolerate soil salinities imposed in a manner similar to tidal inundation in a salt marsh. The greater survival of plants from the marsh population transplanted into the salt marsh further indicated genetic differentiation between the populations. These results indicate that genetic differentiation to salt tolerance in A. glomeratus is better reflected by survival after shortterm salinity events, rather than growth inhibition due to long-term salinity imposed gradually.     

黄河三角洲莱州湾湿地柽柳种群分布特征及其影响因素

为探明黄河三角洲莱州湾柽柳(Tamarix chinensis Lour)灌丛环境因子的基本特征及其对柽柳灌丛空间分布类型的影响,采用样地与样方相结合的测定方法,对柽柳灌丛样地距海远近、地下水水位、土壤盐碱含量、土壤容重和孔隙度等基本物理参数以及土壤有机质、速效氮、磷养分等13个环境因子参数进行相关性和主成分分析。结果表明:莱州湾柽柳种群空间分布表现为聚集型分布,林分密度与距海距离和地下水水位呈极显著正相关,与土壤含水量呈极显著负相关;土壤含盐量与土壤含水量呈极显著正相关,与地下水水位和土壤孔隙度呈极显著负相关;土壤含水量与地下水位呈极显著负相关。莱州湾柽柳灌丛13个环境因子的变异系数在0.060—1.296之间,土壤K+含量、土壤含盐量和林分密度变化幅度较大;其次为土壤有机质和有效磷,地下水水位的空间变异性高于至海距离,而土壤p H值、土壤容重和总孔隙度等基本物理性状变化幅度较小。土壤盐碱含量分别为0.47%和p H为8.48,呈重盐土和偏碱性特征。主成分分析表明,土壤盐碱含量是影响黄河三角洲莱州湾湿地柽柳灌丛分布的主导因素,其次是距海距离,土壤速效磷和地下水位次之。     

Geographic differentiation among populations ofArabis serrata Fr. & Sav. (Brassicaceae)

Geographic variation in morphological traits of thirteen populations ofArabis serrata was analyzed to characterize the life history of each particular population in the field. These localities varied in altitude, topography, soil type, humidity, vegetation structure and degree of disturbance. Twelve morphological characters were measured in each plant, and populations were compared using both univariate and multivariate analyses. Populations showed significant differences for most of the traits measured. Principal component analyses revealed a significant differentiation among populations although a continuous variation for some traits was noted. Length of capsules and leaf length of inflorescence's stalks were correlated with the number of frost free days and with temperature, precipitation and number of days of the growing season. The number of rosettes was also correlated with the same variables but negatively. Seed weight was correlated positively with altitude but negatively with temperature and length of the growing season. Populations were also differentiated according to soil conditions and disturbance regimes distinguishing different types of populations: I) populations with many small rosettes, and few heavy seeds per capsule in volcanic soils with low disturbance; ii) plants with many small seeds and few rosettes in very disturbed localities along asphalt roadways and mountain trails; and iii) large plants with intermediate seed size and intermediate number of seeds per plant in limestone and serpentine soils under different conditions of disturbance. Populations ofA. serrata displayed a complex pattern of differentiation in morphological and life history traits in relation to several biotic and abiotic factors. The quantitative nature of the differences among populations ofA. serrata observed in the field deserves further studies (e.g., quantitative genetics and phenotypic plasticity) under controlled conditions in order to assess the extent of differentiation within this species complex.     

The effects of floral display on pollinator visitation vary among populations ofPhacelia linearis (Hydrophyllaceae)

Summary Individual plants in gynodioecious populations ofPhacelia linearis (Hydrophyllaceae) vary in flower gender, flower size, and flower number. This paper reports the effects of variation in floral display on the visitation behaviour of this species' pollinators (mainly pollen-collecting solitary bees) in several natural and three experimental plant populations, and discusses the results in terms of the consequences for plant fitness. The working hypotheses were: (1) that because female plants do not produce pollen, pollen-collecting insects would visit hermaphrodite plants at a higher rate than female plants and would visit more flowers per hermaphrodite than per female; and (2) that pollinator arrival rate would increase with flower size and flower number, the two main components of visual display. These hypotheses were generally supported, but the effects of floral display on pollinator visitation varied substantially among plant populations. Hermaphrodites received significantly higher rates of pollinator arrivals and significantly higher rates of visits to flowers than did females in all experimental populations. Flower size affected arrival rate and flower visit rate positively in natural populations and in two of the three experimental populations. The flower size effect was significant only among female plants in one experimental population, and only among hermaphrodites in another. The effect of flower number on arrival rate was positive and highly significant in natural populations and in all experimental populations. In two out of three experimental populations, insects visited significantly more flowers per hermaphrodite than per female and visited more flowers on many-flowered plants than on few-flowered plants, but neither effect was detected in the third experimental population. Because seed production is not pollen-limited in this species, variation in pollinator visitation behaviour should mainly affect the male reproductive success of hermaphrodite plants. These findings suggest that pollinator-mediated natural selection for floral display inP. linearis varies in space and time.