| Abstract Detail
Pollination Biology Klooster, Matthew R. [1], Culley, Theresa M. [2]. Pollination Ecology of Monotropa and Monotropsis: Two Myco-Heterotrophic Genera in the Monotropoidea (Ericaceae). In recent years, research conducted separately on pollinator and mycorrhizal associations has facilitated a better understanding of highly specialized, interspecific ecological interactions. To date, no research has been performed to determine if an organism or group of taxa can engage in highly specialized associations in more than one life history trait at the same time. While specialization is rare in nature, myco-heterotrophic species present a novel system that can be used to test whether this ecological phenomenon is possible for both known mycorrhizal interactions and unstudied reproductive traits. A nested, comparative analysis of myco-heterotroph pollination ecology was performed using the related genera Monotropsis and Monotropa, which both have unique ranges and possess distinct floral traits. Due to the rarity of these species in the wild and purported inconsistency in reproductive output, observed low reproductive success may result from minimal pollinator availability and low visitation rates. Low pollinator diversity may reflect the unique floral traits exhibited by each species (approx. 250 plants). Pollinator observations were conducted from 2005 – 2006. Once blooming began, pollinator visits were videotaped 10 hrs each day for three consecutive days. Two full seasons of observations (180 hrs) revealed that Bombus spp. are the primary floral visitors and pollen dispersal agents for all species. The average time spent by each Bombus species visiting each flower, reproductive stem, and plant was also determined from video obtained during the field seasons. This analysis revealed that Bombus spp. alone function as reliable pollinators for each myco-heterotrophic species across all field seasons. Fairly consistent behavior, such as geitonogamous pollen dispersal, was observed in Bombus while foraging among plant species, despite differences in floral traits. This study in addition with other lab and field manipulations will yield further information into the overall reproductive ecology of myco-heterotrophic species.
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Related Links:
Klooster Website
1 - University of Cincinnati, Department of Biological Sciences, 614 Rieveschl Hall, Cincinnati, OH, 45221-0006, USA
2 - University of Cincinnati, Department of Biological Sciences, 614 Rieveschl Hall, Cincinnati, Ohio, 45221, USA
Keywords:
Myco-Heterotrophs
Bombus
Monotropa.
Presentation Type: Poster:Posters for Topics
Session: P
Location: Exhibit Hall (Northeast, Southwest & Southeast)/Hilton
Date: Sunday, July 8th, 2007
Time: 8:00 AM
Number: P75007
Abstract ID:1948 |
