ISSN:
1615-6110
Keywords:
Scrophulariaceae
;
Ixianthes
;
Melittidae
;
Rediviva
;
Floral oil
;
oil-collecting bees
;
specialization for pollination
;
reproductive success
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Biology
Notes:
Abstract Ixianthes retzioides is a rare South African shrub with large yellow oil-secreting flowers. Populations studied previously revealed low levels of reproductive success and the absence of a specialized oil-collecting pollinator. We report the discovery of a population in which the predicted specialist pollinator,Rediviva gigas, is present. The presence of this oil-collecting bee resulted in a mean fruit set per plant of 97.2 ± 8.3% (N = 9) and a mean seed set of 331.6 ± 162.6 (N = 52). This represents a 7.4-fold increase in fruit set and a 7.8-fold increase in seed set over a previously studied population lacking the specialist pollinator. The contrast between populations with and without the specialist pollinator dramatically illustrates the potential benefits and costs of specialization for pollination, respectively.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF00989056
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