水杉原生种群核心种质资源的繁殖特性

水杉(Metasequoia glyptostroboides)原生种群天然更新困难, 为探究其原因是否与繁殖特性有关, 本文以其核心种质资源(40株个体)为对象, 通过对生境、母树个体和种子性状的调查, 并结合田间播种试验, 分析其繁殖特性。以方差分析检测不同母树个体间种子性状、发芽率和幼苗生长特征的差异; 采用相关性分析和多元线性回归模型分析个体性状对其种子、发芽率及幼苗生长的影响; 通过Logistic模型拟合, 分析幼苗生长的节律参数。结果显示: (1) 40株母树个体仅有7株产种, 产种率仅为17.50%, 且不同母树个体间产种量差异显著(P < 0.05)。(2)不同母树个体间的种子千粒重、种子发芽率、幼苗存活率和基径生长量均存在显著差异(P < 0.05)。(3) 7株母树个体种子的平均发芽率为19.73%, 幼苗平均存活率为73.42%, 不同母树之间差异显著(P < 0.05)。(4)母树个体的胸径与种子千粒重、种子发芽率呈显著负相关(P < 0.05), 种子发芽率与幼苗存活率呈极显著正相关(P < 0.001), 树高与幼苗存活率呈显著正相关(P < 0.05)、与幼苗基径呈极显著正相关(P < 0.001)。(5)母树树高对幼苗存活率有显著正效应(P < 0.05), 胸径对种子发芽率有显著负效应(P < 0.05)。(6)苗高、基径的生长符合“S”型生长曲线(R ² ≥ 0.928)。水杉原生种群产种量低, 种子发芽率低、幼苗存活率较低, 且不同母树之间差异显著可能是造成其天然更新困难的原因。     

干旱胁迫对白花鬼针草异型瘦果萌发与幼苗生长的影响

白花鬼针草(Bidens alba)为菊科鬼针草属一年生草本入侵植物,具有瘦果异型性现象,而关于其生态学意义还不清楚。以白花鬼针草异型瘦果为研究对象,采用室内观测和生物测定的方法比较了其两种异型瘦果(中央瘦果和边缘瘦果)的形态特征差异及不同PEG-6000溶液模拟干旱胁迫下的萌发和幼苗生长差异,探讨了白花鬼针草异型瘦果的萌发策略及干旱适应性差异。结果表明:(1)白花鬼针草果序中中央瘦果和边缘瘦果在形态和萌发特性上存在较大差异。中央瘦果的总长、主体长及千粒重显著大于边缘瘦果,而其宽度显著小于后者。中央瘦果萌发相对缓慢,边缘瘦果萌发相对快速整齐。(2)与对照相比,5%～25%浓度的PEG-6000溶液对中央瘦果的最终萌发率、发芽势、发芽指数和活力指数表现为低促高抑的作用规律,而对边缘瘦果的4个指标基本上均表现为随着浓度升高而增强的抑制作用,且15%～25%浓度的溶液对两种瘦果4个指标的抑制作用均达到显著水平(P0.05)。(3)与对照相比,PEG-6000溶液在5%浓度时对中央瘦果幼苗根长产生显著促进作用,而在20%～25%浓度时产生显著抑制作用(P 0.05); PEG-6000溶液分别在10%～25%和15%～25%浓度时对中央瘦果幼苗的苗高和鲜质量产生显著抑制作用,其在15%～25%浓度时对边缘瘦果幼苗的根长,5%～25%浓度时对边缘瘦果幼苗的苗高和鲜质量产生显著抑制作用(P0.05)。可见,白花鬼针草中央瘦果和边缘瘦果形态上存在较大差异,具有不同的萌发策略,中央瘦果表现出更强的干旱适应性。这些特性有助于中央瘦果在扩散到新生境中的定殖及边缘瘦果在原生境中种群的延续。     

川西高原12种风毛菊属植物瘦果形态和发芽特征

分析了12种风毛菊属植物瘦果形态、果皮微形态和发芽特征,并探讨了瘦果形态和发芽特征与植物地理分布范围之间的关系.瘦果形状包括倒披针形、圆柱形和圆柱状倒三角形3种类型.瘦果长度、宽度和厚度变幅较大,平均变幅达10％.瘦果果皮微形态可区分为条纹型、网纹型和孔纹型,以条纹型最为普遍.种内瘦果微形态特征十分稳定,是很好的分类学依据.种子(瘦果)发芽率差异较大,最高达98％,而最低仅为40％.风毛菊属植物地理分布范围与瘦果冠毛长度和百粒瘦果重量显著相关,与瘦果饱满率、冠毛比重、发芽率之间均为正相关,但相关性不显著.本文涉及的风毛菊属植物瘦果冠毛比重较高,有利于远距离传播,且高发芽率和百粒瘦果重量为幼苗的成功定居提供了保障,在青藏高原有更广的潜在分布区.     

梭梭不同种源间种子性状和幼苗生长性状与地理和气候因子的关系

对6个种源区梭梭[Haloxylon ammodendron(C.A.Mey.)Bunge]的种子性状和幼苗生长性状进行比较,并对这些性状与地理气候因子的相关性进行了分析,通过聚类分析方法对不同种源进行了评价.结果显示,不同种源间梭梭种子性状和幼苗生长性状存在显著差异,种子的果翅长度、种子千粒重、单株种子质量和种子发芽率的变化范围分别为5.13～7.14 mm、2.21～3.75 g、2.49～53.17 g和24.45%～75.00%,幼苗株高、新生枝长度、幼苗地径和幼苗成活率的变化范围分别为16.67～56.67 cm、14.33～29.34 cm、4.04～8.06 mm和42.56%～84.45%.不同种源梭梭的种子及幼苗生长性状与地理分布有关;单株种子质量、种子发芽率、幼苗株高和幼苗成活率与经度极显著正相关,果翅长度、种子千粒重和幼苗株高与纬度极显著负相关,海拔仪与果翅长度有显著相关关系;单株种子质量、种子发芽率和幼苗成活率的直接影响因子为经度,果翅长度、种子千粒重和新生枝长度的直接影响因子为纬度.气候因子与种子性状紧密相关,而与幼苗生长性状的相关性较差,仅幼苗成活率与1月气温和相对湿度存在极显著相关性;1月气温对果翅长度、单株种子质量、种子发芽率、幼苗株高和新牛枝长度的直接作用最大;年降雨量对地径的直接作用最大,相对湿度对幼苗成活率的直接作用最强.通过聚类分析将6个梭梭种源分为3类,其中内蒙古磴口种源为优良梭梭种源,新疆乌苏种源为较差种源.     

横断山区干旱河谷川滇蔷薇种子休眠与萌发的地理空间差异

通过测定横断山区干旱河谷18个川滇蔷薇种群新采集种子以及低温层积8周种子的发芽率和发芽速度,分析发芽率和发芽速度与种子特征以及环境因子之间的关系,阐明川滇蔷薇种子休眠与萌发的地理空间差异及其影响因素。结果表明,18个川滇蔷薇种群种子具有不同程度的休眠,新采集种子发芽率变化幅度大,为15.8%±5.0%至82.7%±2.3%,发芽速度指数范围：2.3%±0.2%至5.3%±0.5%。不同种群种子发芽率和发芽速度差异显著。新采集种子的发芽率在流域间存在显著差异,表现为金沙江流域 > 雅砻江流域 > 大渡河流域和岷江流域。新采集种子的发芽率和发芽速度随着采集地点海拔的升高而显著增加,即种子休眠程度随着海拔的升高呈现降低趋势。低温层积8周显著提高了种子发芽率和发芽速度,但减弱了种子发芽率和发芽速度在流域以及海拔间的差异。偏相关分析表明：瘦果皮厚度与新采集种子萌发速度成显著负相关关系;环境因子中年蒸发量与发芽率以及发芽速度之间关系最为密切,成极显著正相关关系;其次为年降水量,与发芽率和发芽速度之间具有显著的负相关关系。综合分析表明,川滇蔷薇种子休眠与萌发在横断山区干旱河谷存在较强地理空间差异。环境因子中年蒸发量和年降水量以及植物自身特征瘦果皮厚度是引起种子休眠与萌发地理空间差异的主要因素。     

菜粉蝶对两种迁地保护的兰科植物传粉和繁殖成功的作用

迁地保护是防止物种灭绝的有效措施。为了解在新栖息地兰科植物与昆虫之间的关系, 从而为兰科植物的保护提供借鉴, 作者对迁地栽培于深圳市全国兰科植物种质资源保护中心的本地种血叶兰(Ludisia discolor)和外来种银带虾脊兰(Calanthe argenteo-striata)的传粉系统和繁殖策略进行了观察和研究。血叶兰和银带虾脊兰都具有白色小花组成的花序, 且花有距。在开放栽培条件下, 菜粉蝶(Pieris rapae)是这两种兰科植物唯一有效的传粉者。菜粉蝶携带血叶兰和银带虾脊兰花粉块的部位分别是降落时平衡身体的左侧足部和取食花蜜的喙。两种兰科植物传粉效率较高, 花粉移走与沉降的比值分别为1.14 : 1和0.74 : 1。血叶兰的结实率在2007和2008两年间无显著差异, 且均高于银带虾脊兰。究其原因, 一方面是由于它为传粉者提供报酬; 另一方面是因为血叶兰的花期与菜粉蝶的盛发期相吻合, 有利于充分利用传粉者; 而银带虾脊兰的花期滞后于菜粉蝶的盛发期, 传粉者缺失使得部分花未能授粉。血叶兰和银带虾脊兰都是高度自交亲和的物种, 但不存在无融合生殖和自动自花授粉的现象; 自交和异交的繁殖成功率无显著差异。这两种兰科植物可能存在由传粉者导致的自交现象。血叶兰和银带虾脊兰在迁地栽培到兰科中心后生长良好, 每年花期都有自然结果的现象, 植株周围有新生幼苗的建立, 种群有逐渐扩大的趋势, 显示出迁地保护的可行性。可以预测若干年后, 这两个种在兰科中心具有建立稳定种群的可能性。     

草玉梅种子休眠原因及解除休眠方法

为明晰草玉梅(Anemone rivularis)种子的休眠类型和破除休眠的方法、为草地改良和草玉梅的栽培提供基础,以未去除果皮的草玉梅瘦果为对照,研究了不同处理对草玉梅种子休眠的影响。结果表明:40~50 g·L-1的NaOH溶液浸泡3~5 h未能破除其休眠;经过2个月的贮藏,剪去草玉梅果皮上端、除去果皮的草玉梅种子在黑暗条件下的发芽率分别为3.3%和6.2%,与对照(2.0%)差异不显著(P0.05),而光照条件下的上述种子发芽率分别为38.7%和76.0%,显著高于对照(P0.05);剪去果皮基部的草玉梅种子在光照和黑暗条件下的发芽率与对照差异不显著(P0.05)。除去部分(1/5~1/4)果皮能使草玉梅种子发芽率提高到62.7%,显著高于对照(P0.05);果皮穿刺处理显著提高了草玉梅种子发芽率(19.3%)(P0.05),但显著低于除去果皮和部分去皮处理(P0.05);草玉梅果皮水提液对草玉梅种子萌发无抑制作用;10~30 mg·L-1GA3浸泡处理10 h未能提高草玉梅瘦果的发芽率;草玉梅种子在25/15℃变温条件下发芽率最高,15/5℃和10/5℃变温条件下不能发芽。综合分析认为,果皮的遮光引起了草玉梅种子的休眠,除去果皮能有效破除草玉梅种子的休眠。除去果皮后尚有部分种子仍然处于休眠状态,因此草玉梅种子(瘦果)的休眠为综合休眠类型。     

鼠尾草属不同物种的雄蕊杠杆机制对传粉者空间变异的进化响应

被子植物虫媒传粉植物的物种分化通常被认为是花性状响应传粉环境(传粉者)的空间变异而发生适应性分化的结果。通过对鼠尾草属(Salvia) 3个物种(共4个居群)传粉互作系统的比较, 探索了花性状对不同传粉环境的进化响应。结果表明: 各居群的传粉者组成、主要传粉者类型及其大小各不相同, 杠杆状雄蕊及相关花部性状大小在不同居群间具有显著差异; 各居群均表现出腹部传粉和背部传粉2种传粉模式, 但背部传粉仍然是最有效的传粉方式; 居群间杠杆状雄蕊长度与传粉者体长表现出极显著的正相关, 然而花冠长与传粉者体长表现出负相关; 花冠口高度和柱头高度与传粉者胸厚也表现出一定的协同变异。鼠尾草属植物的杠杆状雄蕊及相关花部性状在传粉系统的进化过程中表现出高度的可塑性, 表明雄蕊杠杆传粉机制对传粉环境的变异非常敏感, 在该属植物的物种分化过程中具有关键作用。     

光照和温度对入侵植物大狼耙草异型瘦果萌发的影响

为了解大狼耙草(Bidens frondosa)的入侵机理,对其中央瘦果和外围瘦果的形态特征和萌发特性进行了研究。结果表明,大狼耙草果序中的中央瘦果和外围瘦果在颜色、长度、宽度和芒刺长度等方面均存在明显差异。在周期性光照下, 两种瘦果在15℃/10℃下不萌发;在20℃/15℃和25℃/20℃下中央瘦果的萌发率显著高于外围瘦果;而在30℃/25℃、35℃/30℃和40℃/35℃下两种瘦果的萌发率无显著差异。在全黑暗条件下, 中央瘦果在低于35℃/30℃时萌发受到抑制,外围瘦果在低于40℃时萌发受到抑制。光照和瘦果类型除对大狼耙草的萌发率有显著影响外,对萌发指数和萌发速率也有明显影响。大狼耙草通过异形瘦果间的萌发差异减少同胞后代间的相互竞争,增强其对不同环境的适应性,使后代获得更多的生存机会,有利于瘦果在适宜的环境条件下萌发及入侵种群的存留与扩张。     

不同地理种源桔梗种子性状及苗期生长分析

对来源于不同产地的43份桔梗[Platycocon grandiflorus（Jaeq．）A．DC．]种子的地理变异、种子特性及幼苗生长状况进行了分析。根据不同种源桔梗种子的特性、发芽率及幼苗的生长状况,利用聚类分析方法可将供试的桔梗种源大致分为南方和北方2个地理种源,其中北方种源的种子颗粒较大,千粒重达1．21～1．35g;南方种源的种子发芽率高（65％～71％）,种子千粒重为1．15～1．20g,幼苗生长健壮,根系较发达。此外,桔梗种子的发芽率与纬度呈明显的负相关,桔梗幼苗地上部分的生长与根茎的生长存在显著的相关性,可作为早期间苗及幼苗筛选的标准。研究结果表明,来源于安徽毫州及安徽太和的桔梗种源适合在浙江富阳地区栽培。     

Role of honey bees (Hymenoptera: Apidae) in the pollination biology of a California native plant, Triteleia laxa (Asparagales: Themidaceae)

A central focus of pollination biology is to document the relative effectiveness of different flower visitors as pollinators. Ongoing research seeks to determine the role that introduced honey bees (Apis mellifera L.) play in the pollination of both invasive and native plants. Here we report on the importance of A. mellifera as pollinators of a California native plant, Triteleia laxa Bentham. In observation plots and transect censuses, A. mellifera overwhelmingly dominated the T. laxa flower visitor assemblage. We believe the proximity to agriculture, where A. mellifera density is higher relative to areas far from agriculture, contributes to the discrepancy between A. mellifera abundance at the two sites. Although A. mellifera were inferior flower visitors qualitatively (visited less flowers per minute), they were the most frequent interactors with flowers. Furthermore, the proportion of visits to flowers on the same plant among flower visitor species did not differ, suggesting a general mechanism by which insects forage at T. laxa flowers and that A. mellifera do not cause more deleterious geitonogamy than do native pollinators. Flower visitation rates as a function of floral display size did not differ between A. mellifera and other flower visitors. The difference in the magnitude of flower visitation (largely by A. mellifera) between sites is consistent with a difference in seed set between sites. These results suggest that non-native A. mellifera bees can play an important role in the pollination of native plant species.     

Pollination niche overlap between a parasitic plant and its host

Niche theory predicts that species which share resources should evolve strategies to minimise competition for those resources, or the less competitive species would be extirpated. Some plant species are constrained to co-occur, for example parasitic plants and their hosts, and may overlap in their pollination niche if they flower at the same time and attract the same pollinators. Using field observations and experiments between 1996 and 2006, we tested a series of hypotheses regarding pollination niche overlap between a specialist parasitic plant Orobanche elatior (Orobanchaceae) and its host Centaurea scabiosa (Asteraceae). These species flower more or less at the same time, with some year-to-year variation. The host is pollinated by a diverse range of insects, which vary in their effectiveness, whilst the parasite is pollinated by a single species of bumblebee, Bombus pascuorum, which is also an effective pollinator of the host plant. The two species therefore have partially overlapping pollination niches. These niches are not finely subdivided by differential pollen placement, or by diurnal segregation of the niches. We therefore found no evidence of character displacement within the pollination niches of these species, possibly because pollinators are not a limiting resource for these plants. Direct observation of pollinator movements, coupled with experimental manipulations of host plant inflorescence density, showed that Bombus pascuorum only rarely moves between inflorescences of the host and the parasite and therefore the presence of one plant is unlikely to be facilitating pollination in the other. This is the first detailed examination of pollination niche overlap in a plant parasite system and we suggest avenues for future research in relation to pollination and other shared interactions between parasitic plants and their hosts.     

Consequences of clonal growth for plant mating

By affecting the number and the spatial distribution of flowering units (i.e., ramets), clonal growth can influence pollen transfer between plants and thus affect mating opportunities. In this paper I review some recent work that attests the importance of clonal growth for pollination patterns. A major aspect concerns the increase in floral display through the multiplication of flowering ramets. Although large floral displays can enhance pollinator attraction and may thus promote outcrossing, they can also increase rates of geitonogamy (i.e., pollination between flowers in the same plant). However, the latter aspect will depend on clonal architecture, a feature that greatly varies among clonal plant species. Future experimental studies and comparative analyses of rates of geitonogamy in species with clumped and intermingled distribution may allow for the evaluation of evolutionary interaction between clonal growth and floral traits that regulate mating patterns.     

Differences in the diversity and composition of the pollinator assemblage of two co-flowering congeneric alpine wallflowers, Erysimum nevadense and E. baeticum

Many alpine plants display a generalist pollination system where almost any available flower visitor could act as a legitimate pollinator. Co-flowering related plant species displaying a generalized pollination system can decrease their fitness due to interspecific mating. In this study, we determine the difference in diversity and composition of the pollination systems of two co-occurring species endemic to the alpine region of the Sierra Nevada (SE Spain), Erysimum nevadense Reut. and Erysimum baeticum baeticum (Heywood) Polatschek (Brassicaceae), and check for the potential role of floral and plant traits in explaining the observed differences. For this, we labeled 30 plants in two populations of each plant species located in the same area. We determined flower visitor assemblage by sampling all insects approaching the flowers and contacting the sexual organs during 60-min surveys. We found that the diversity of the pollinator assemblage was similar between the two studied wallflower species, both species showing a much generalized pollination system. However, the composition of the pollinator assemblage was different, since the flowers of E. nevadense were visited mostly by beetles and in a lesser extent by hover-flies, whereas the flowers of E. baeticum baeticum were visited mostly by ants and bees. Interestingly, flower traits varied between species, with E. nevadense displaying yellow, smaller and shallower flowers and E. baeticum baeticum displaying purple, large and deeper flowers. These findings suggest that differences in floral traits can explain the observed differences in the composition of the pollinator assemblage between both wallflower species.     

Comparison of the ecology and evolution of plants with a generalist bird pollination system between continents and islands worldwide

Thousands of plant species worldwide are dependent on birds for pollination. While the ecology and evolution of interactions between specialist nectarivorous birds and the plants they pollinate is relatively well understood, very little is known on pollination by generalist birds. The flower characters of this pollination syndrome are clearly defined but the geographical distribution patterns, habitat preferences and ecological factors driving the evolution of generalist‐bird‐pollinated plant species have never been analysed. Herein I provide an overview, compare the distribution of character states for plants growing on continents with those occurring on oceanic islands and discuss the environmental factors driving the evolution of both groups. The ecological niches of generalist‐bird‐pollinated plant species differ: on continents these plants mainly occur in habitats with pronounced climatic seasonality whereas on islands generalist‐bird‐pollinated plant species mainly occur in evergreen forests. Further, on continents generalist‐bird‐pollinated plant species are mostly shrubs and other large woody species producing numerous flowers with a self‐incompatible reproductive system, while on islands they are mostly small shrubs producing fewer flowers and are self‐compatible. This difference in character states indicates that diverging ecological factors are likely to have driven the evolution of these groups: on continents, plants that evolved generalist bird pollination escape from pollinator groups that tend to maintain self‐pollination by installing feeding territories in single flowering trees or shrubs, such as social bees or specialist nectarivorous birds. This pattern is more pronounced in the New compared to the Old World. By contrast, on islands, plants evolved generalist bird pollination as an adaptation to birds as a reliable pollinator group, a pattern previously known from plants pollinated by specialist nectarivorous birds in tropical mountain ranges. Additionally, I discuss the evolutionary origins of bird pollination systems in comparison to systems involving specialist nectarivorous birds and reconstruct the bird pollination system of Hawaii, which may represent an intermediate between a specialist and generalist bird pollination system. I also discuss the interesting case of Australia, where it is difficult to distinguish between specialist and generalist bird pollination systems.     

湿地植物大花百合种群的性系统特征

开花植物性系统特征是植物在长期适应进化过程中逐渐形成的繁殖策略, 它在一定程度上影响了物种的种群结构及其在生境中的分布格局, 因此性系统特征一直是植物进化与生态学领域的研究热点。本研究于2012年和2020年在吉林省金川泥炭沼泽湿地, 通过样地调查取样的方法, 研究了湿地植物大花百合(Lilium concolor var. megalanthum)的性系统特征以及不同性别表型植株的比例、密度及空间分布格局, 并探究了大花百合植株个体大小和其性别表达的联系, 比较了不同性别表型的花粉实际可育性和来源不同的花粉授粉处理结实后的种子活力。结果显示, 个体水平上, 大花百合具有雄花植株、两性花植株和雄花两性花同株(即雄全同株) 3种性表型; 种群水平上, 具有雄花的个体充当父本, 通过花粉向下一代传递基因, 而具有两性花的个体主要充当母本, 通过胚珠实现基因的传递。2020年大花百合雄花植株占种群内开花植株的39.14%, 相比2012年雄花植株比例增加了22.80%; 大花百合种群分布密度为0.06株/m², 较2012年下降了0.09株/m²。从2012年到2020年, 总体表现为种群密度降低, 雄花植株相对比例增加的趋势。两性花植株和雄花植株在小尺度范围主要呈聚集分布, 随着尺度增大, 趋于随机分布。雄花植株显著小于两性花植株, 但鳞茎资源分配显著高于两性花植株。大花百合植株的性表达遵循大小依赖的性分配假说: 个体较小的植株表达为雄花植株, 而个体较大的植株则为两性花植株或雄全同株。在不同授粉处理下的结籽率和种子萌发结果表明, 大花百合自花授粉结籽率和坐果率显著低于异花授粉, 雄花植株和两性花植株花粉可育性以及对两性花植株授粉后所获得种子活力无显著差异。大花百合雄花植株的出现可能是对有限环境资源条件适应的结果, 反映了湿地条件下该植物在生长和繁殖资源之间的权衡策略, 在长期的湿地演变过程中, 这种性系统特征的出现具有一定的适应性意义。     

濒危植物元宝山冷杉结实特性与种子繁殖力初探

元宝山冷杉是仅产于广西中部元宝山的珍稀濒危植物, 天然更新能力差。调查表明, 不同植株的球果产量、单果种子的数量均有差异, 球果长短、大小与种子数量、种子质量(饱满率)存在显著正相关。风干种子千粒重为16.9581 g, 含水量为12.85%。元宝山冷杉种子的吸水过程分为三个阶段, 第一阶段是0~1 小时, 为急剧的吸水阶段;第二阶段是1~10 小时, 吸水基本停滞;第三阶段是10~339 小时, 又是急剧的吸水阶段, 吸水量递增。用0.1%靛蓝溶液测定种子生活力, 按以往判别松科植物的标准判断, 其生活力极低。饱满种粒在培养箱中发芽率为18.9%, 场圃发芽率6.8%。以往判断方法是否不适用元宝山冷杉, 需作进一步的探讨和研究。种子发芽率低, 是冷杉自然更新不良、种群难以延续和扩展的重要因素。     

Effects of natural and artificial pollination on fruit and offspring quality

Worldwide, many crops rely on insect pollination. Insufficient pollination can reduce fruit and seed set by directly reducing pollen deposition, and can also affect offspring quality, such as growth rate and resistance to herbivores, by limiting outcrossing opportunities. Both effects are important in fruit agroecosystems where fruit size and the quality of seeds for re-planting are dependent on sufficient pollination. We experimentally manipulated pollination of the cape gooseberry, Physalis peruviana L. (Solanaceae), to test the effects of honey and bumble bee pollination compared to manual outcrossing and autonomous self-pollination on fruit and offspring characteristics. Compared to manual and self-pollination, bee pollination increased fruit size, seed set and germination rates, supporting the hypothesis that sufficient pollination increases plant fitness. Interestingly, plant growth rate and herbivore resistance were significantly and marginally greater in manually outcrossed plants compared to self-pollinated offspring, suggesting that inbreeding reduces offspring quality. Herbivore resistance and plant growth did not differ between one honeybee visit and self-pollination suggesting that multiple pollinator visits are needed to prevent inbreeding events. Our data suggest that the quantity and quality of pollen deposited by bee visitation can significantly alter ecologically and economically relevant traits in this agroecosystem.     

Pollination efficiency and reproductive patterns in relation to local plant density,population size,and floral display in the rewarding Listera ovata (Orchidaceae)

Pollination efficiency and reproductive success vary strongly among populations of most animal‐pollinated plant species, depending on their size and local density, whereas individual plants within populations experience varying levels of reproductive output as a result of differences in floral display. Although most orchid species have been shown to be severely pollination limited, few studies have investigated the impact of the above‐mentioned factors on pollination success and reproduction, especially in rewarding species. In this study, the impact of population size, local density of flowering plants, and floral display on the rates of pollinia export and fruit production was investigated in 13 natural populations of the rewarding terrestrial orchid Listera ovata. In addition, an emasculation experiment was set up to examine how floral display and local density of flowering plants affected the relative importance of cross‐ vs. geitonogamous pollination in determining fruit set. In the studied populations, pollination efficiency, pollen removal, and fruit set increased with increasing population size until a threshold value of 30–40 flowering plants was reached, above which pollination efficiency and reproductive output decreased again. On average, plants with large floral displays showed higher proportional pollinia removal and fruit set compared with smaller plants. Fruit production was also significantly and positively related to local plant density, whereas emasculation did not affect the relationship between local plant density and fruit set, suggesting that geitonogamous pollination did not affect the outcome of female function. The results of this study are discussed in the light of the flowering mechanism of the species and its generalized pollination system. © 2008 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 2008, 157 , 713–721.     

Pollinator Interactions with Yellow Starthistle (Centaurea solstitialis) across Urban,Agricultural, and Natural Landscapes

Pollinator-plant relationships are found to be particularly vulnerable to land use change. Yet despite extensive research in agricultural and natural systems, less attention has focused on these interactions in neighboring urban areas and its impact on pollination services. We investigated pollinator-plant interactions in a peri-urban landscape on the outskirts of the San Francisco Bay Area, California, where urban, agricultural, and natural land use types interface. We made standardized observations of floral visitation and measured seed set of yellow starthistle (Centaurea solstitialis), a common grassland invasive, to test the hypotheses that increasing urbanization decreases 1) rates of bee visitation, 2) viable seed set, and 3) the efficiency of pollination (relationship between bee visitation and seed set). We unexpectedly found that bee visitation was highest in urban and agricultural land use contexts, but in contrast, seed set rates in these human-altered landscapes were lower than in natural sites. An explanation for the discrepancy between floral visitation and seed set is that higher plant diversity in urban and agricultural areas, as a result of more introduced species, decreases pollinator efficiency. If these patterns are consistent across other plant species, the novel plant communities created in these managed landscapes and the generalist bee species that are favored by human-altered environments will reduce pollination services.