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Patchiness in the dispersion of nectar resources: Probable causes
1Department of Biology, Oberlin College, 44074, Oberlin, Ohio, USA.
Oecologia
|March 18, 2017
Summary
Bumblebee foraging patterns create nectar "hot" and "cold" spots in Delphinium nelsonii populations. This study demonstrates that bumblebees, not plant proximity, influence nectar distribution, impacting pollinator behavior and plant reproductive success.
Area of Science:
- Ecology
- Pollination Biology
- Behavioral Ecology
Background:
- Delphinium nelsonii populations exhibit spatial patchiness in nectar availability.
- Nectar distribution patterns show "hot plants" (high nectar) near other hot plants and "cold plants" (low nectar) near cold plants.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the causes of spatial nectar distribution patterns in Delphinium nelsonii.
- To differentiate between plant-driven and pollinator-driven explanations for nectar "hot" and "cold" spots.
Main Methods:
- Sampling standing crop of nectar in D. nelsonii populations.
- Comparing nectar distribution during periods of high and low bumblebee abundance.
Main Results:
- Evidence suggests bumblebee foraging patterns are responsible for the observed "hot" and "cold" spots.
- The spatial arrangement of nectar resources is influenced by pollinator activity.
Conclusions:
- Bumblebee foraging behavior shapes the distribution of nectar resources.
- Pollinator activity, rather than plant physiological similarities, drives spatial nectar patterns in this system.
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