Flower movement balances pollinator needs and pollen protection.
Alexander Haverkamp1, Xiang Li2, Bill S Hansson1
1Department of Evolutionary Neuroethology, Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, Jena, Germany.
Ecology
|November 10, 2018
Summary
Flower orientation in wild tobacco (Nicotiana attenuata) impacts hawkmoth pollination success. While moths chose flowers regardless of orientation, downward-facing flowers prevented pollen collection, highlighting the importance of flower movement for plant-pollinator interactions.
Area of Science:
- Plant-pollinator interactions
- Floral biology
- Behavioral ecology
Background:
- Flower orientation influences pollinator attraction and accessibility.
- Nicotiana attenuata flowers exhibit daily reorientation, moving upward at sunset and downward at sunrise.
- Hawkmoths (Manduca sexta) are key pollinators for N. attenuata.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effect of flower orientation on hawkmoth pollination behavior.
- To determine if flower orientation impacts pollinator choice, interaction time, and pollen collection.
- To assess the impact of flower orientation on pollen viability.
Main Methods:
- Observing hawkmoth flight behavior and flower choice in response to different flower orientations.
- Measuring floral volatile distribution.
- Assessing hawkmoth feeding time and pollen collection success.
- Measuring anther temperature and pollen germination rates at different orientations.
Main Results:
- Flower orientation affected hawkmoth flight altitude but not flower choice.
- Floral volatile distribution was not significantly altered by orientation.
- Hawkmoths could only collect pollen from horizontal and upward-facing flowers.
- Upward-facing flowers had higher anther temperatures, leading to reduced pollen germination.
Conclusions:
- Flower reorientation is crucial for successful N. attenuata-hawkmoth interactions, ensuring pollinator accessibility.
- Flower orientation balances pollinator interaction with pollen protection from heat stress.
- Maintaining the link between floral scent and accessibility is vital for plant reproduction.
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