Nectar production of Epilobium angustifolium L. at different air humidities; nectar sugar in individual flowers and the optimal foraging theory.

Abstract

The nectar production of Epilobium angustifolium L. was investigated at 20°C and 50%, 78% and 94% ambient humidity in the climatic test chamber. By means of permanent pipettes, freshly produced nectar was sucked off immediately after secretion, and nectar samples were also taken at 10-h and 48-h intervals to investigate the postsecretory influence of ambient humidity. Volume and sugar concentration of samples from individual flowers were measured and the sugar contained was calculated. The rate of sugar production remains constant for all ambient humidities and extraction intervals investigated; the mean value for all 180 samples is 1.55 mg sucrose equivalents/24h. Sugar concentration of secretion nectar is linearly dependent on ambient humidity over the range investigated, and nectar volume and sugar concentration change according to the theoretically expected curve for solutions with a sugar content of 1.55 mg sucrose. The response of secretion nectar to steplike changes in ambient humidity was investigated and the transient function described. The nectaries respond immediately to changes in ambient humidity. The consequences of the results for nectar production and nectar reward of individual flowers in the field and for the optimal foraging of pollinators are discussed. Discussion concentrates particularly on the following questions: what influence the variability of nectar reward in individual flowers may have on flower-visiting bumble-bees; whether these animals have the sensory capabilities to measure sugar exactly; and whether the water relations of pollinators may also influence foraging behaviour.