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  • Title:  Effects of floral herbivory on foraging behaviour of bumblebees and female reproductive success in Pedicularis gruina (Orobanchaceae)
  • Authors: 
  • Corresponding Author:  Kuo Liao, Robert W. Gituru, Youhao Guo*, Qingfeng Wang*
  • Pubyear:  2013
  • Title of Journal:  Flora
  • Paper Code: 
  • Volume:  208
  • Number:  2013
  • Page:  562– 569
  • Others: 
  • Classification: 
  • Source: 

    Abstract:

  • The effects of floral herbivores on floral traits may result in alterations in pollinator foraging behaviourand subsequently influence plant reproductive success. Fed-upon plants may have evolved mechanismsto compensate for herbivore-related decreased fecundity. We conducted a series of field experiments todetermine the relative contribution of floral herbivores and pollinators to female reproductive success inan alpine herb, Pedicularis gruina, in two natural populations over two consecutive years. Experimental manipulations included bagging, hand supplemental, geitonogamous pollination, and simulated floral herbivory. Bumblebees not only avoided damaged flowers and plants but also decreased successive visitsof flowers in damaged plants, and the latter may reduce the level of geitonogamy. Although seed setper fruit within damaged plants was higher than that in intact plants, total seed number in damaged plants was less than that in intact plants, since floral herbivory-mediated pollinator limitation led to asharp reduction of fruit set. Overall, the results suggest that resource reallocation within inflorescencesof damaged plants may partially compensate for a reduction in seed production. Additionally, a novelfinding was the decrease in successive within-plant bumblebee visits following floral herbivory. Thismay increase seed quantity and quality of P. gruina since self-compatible species exhibit inbreeding depression. The patterns of compensation of herbivory and its consequences reported in this study givean insight into the combined effects of interactions between floral herbivory and pollination on plant reproductive fitness. 

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