| Abstract Detail
Pollination Biology Vizelka, Jason [1], Karron, Jeffrey [2], Mitchell, Randall [3]. Effects of closely related bumble bee species on reproductive success and mating patterns in Mimulus ringens. Over the last decade there have been dramatic changes in the relative abundance and diversity of bumble bee populations, including significant decline of many species both in North America and Europe. Often several species co-occur sympatrically and it is not known if these species provide equivalent pollination services for native flowering plants. To address this question we quantified seed set of Mimulus ringens flowers following individual visits by (Bombus vagans and Bombus impatiens). These two species coexist in native populations and vary markedly in both body size and foraging behavior.
The mean seed set following single visits by B. vagans was 3131. This level of seed set was significantly higher than seed set resulting from visits by B. impatiens (X=2423), suggesting that different bumble bee species may not have the same contributions to native plant reproduction. Therefore even without a decline in the total number of bumble bees, local plants may still be affected by reduced pollinator diversity or changes in the relative abundance of pollinator species. Future work will explore how visits by these two species influence pollen receipt, self-pollination rate, mate diversity and gene dispersal. Broader Impacts:
Log in to add this item to your schedule
1 - University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Biological Sciences, P.O. Box 413, Milwaukee, WI, 53201-0413, USA
2 - University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Department of Biological Sciences, PO BOX 413, MILWAUKEE, WI, 53201, USA
3 - UNIVERSITY OF AKRON, Department of Biology, Department Of Biology, AKRON, OH, 44325-3908, USA
Keywords:
pollination
monkeyflower
Mimulus
bumble bee
seed set
pollinator decline.
Presentation Type: Poster:Posters for Topics
Session: P
Location: Grand Salon A - D/Riverside Hilton
Date: Monday, July 29th, 2013
Time: 5:30 PM
Number: PPL002
Abstract ID:131
Candidate for Awards:None |
