An invasive dandelion unilaterally reduces the reproduction of a native congener through competition for pollination |
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Authors: | Ikuo Kandori Toshihiro Hirao Satoshi Matsunaga Tsutomu Kurosaki |
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Institution: | (1) Laboratory of Entomology, Faculty of Agriculture, Kinki University, Naka-machi, Nara 631-8505, Japan |
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Abstract: | The impact of invasive alien species on native species is of increasing global concern. Invasive plants have various negative
effects on natives through competition; however, relatively little is known about competition for pollination. The relationship
between Japanese native dandelions (Taraxacum spp.) and invasive congeners may be a typical case of such an interaction. For example, native dandelions are being replaced
by invasive congeners, especially in urban and suburban areas of Japan. To explain this phenomenon, we hypothesized that when
natives are mixed with attractive invasives, natives may suffer from reduced seed set because invasives deprive natives of
pollinators or because pollinators frequently move between species, resulting in interspecific pollen transfer. To test this
hypothesis, we studied the effect of the invasive dandelion T. officinale on the pollination and seed set of the native T. japonicum using artificial arrays of monospecific and mixed-species plots as well as natural populations. Taraxacum officinale attracted more pollinator visits, perhaps because it produced more nectar than T. japonicum. The number of pollinator visits to T. japonicum was reduced when the congeners were grown together, and pollinators moved frequently between the two species. The proportion
of seed set for T. japonicum was reduced in the presence of T. officinale in both artificial arrays and natural populations. These results support our hypothesis that interspecific competition for
pollination plays an important role in the recent replacement of native dandelions by invasive congeners in Japan. Because
invasive dandelions are apomicts, negative effects are incurred only by sexual natives. Thus, this system can be recognized
as a rare case of interspecific interaction through pollination. |
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Keywords: | Dandelion Wars Exploitation competition Interference competition Pollinator Taraxacum japonicum Taraxacum officinale |
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