ISSN:
1432-1939
Keywords:
Distyly
;
Euglossine bee
;
Heliconiid butterfly
;
Pollinator effectiveness
;
Psychotria
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Biology
Notes:
Abstract In this paper I report components of effectiveness for pollinators of a tropical distylous shrub, Psychotria suerrensis (Rubiaceae), which is visited by a variety of bees, wasps, and butterflies, and by two species of hummingbirds. In the field, I measured the following components of effectiveness: frequency of visits, evenness of visits across plants, and diurnal pattern of visits. I also used flight-cage experiments to compare pollentransfer abilities of euglossine bees and heliconiid butterflies. Euglossine bees visited more frequently, visited earlier in the day, and visited a higher proportion of plants in the population than did other taxa. In flight cage experiments, bees and butterflies transferred similar amounts of pollen overall, but bees transferred significantly more inter-morph (compatible) pollen. For each component measured, euglossine bees appeared to be the most effective pollinators.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF00333942
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