Abstract
BackgroundIn plants, reproductive success is largely determined by the composition of pollen (i.e., self-pollen and outcross-pollen from near and distant pollen-donors) transported as a result of pollinator foraging behavior (e.g., pollen carryover). However, little evidence is available on how and to what extent the pollen carryover affects the pollen-donor composition and on which insect taxa are effective outcross-pollen transporters under field conditions. In this study, we explored roles of foraging behavior of insect pollinators on pollen-donor composition and subsequent reproductive success in a woody plant.MethodsWe performed paternity analyses based on microsatellite genotyping of individual pollen grains found on diurnal pollinators (i.e., bumblebee, small bee, fly, small beetle, and honeybee) visiting Castanea crenata trees.ResultsThe outcross-pollen rate was highest in bumblebees (66%), followed by small bees (35%), flies (31%), and small beetles (18%). The effective number of pollen donors, representing pollen carryover, was greater in bumblebees (9.71) than in flies (3.40), small bees (3.32), and small beetles (3.06). The high percentages of pollen from outside the plot on bumblebees (65.4%) and flies (71.2%) compared to small bees (35.3%) and small beetles (13.5%) demonstrated their longer pollen dispersal distances.ConclusionsAll of the diurnal insects carried outcross-pollen grains for long distances via pollen carryover. This fact suggests that a wide range of insect taxa are potential outcross-pollen transporters for the self-incompatible C. crenata.
Highlights
Pollination is a fascinating process in which immobile plants frequently use mobile animals to mate with spatially separated conspecifics
All of the diurnal insects carried outcross-pollen grains for long distances via pollen carryover. This fact suggests that a wide range of insect taxa are potential outcross-pollen transporters for the self-incompatible C. crenata
The outcross-pollen rate was greatest in the bumblebee, followed by the small bee (35 ± 18%), fly (31 ± 9%), and small beetle (18 ± 10%; generalized linear mixed model (GLMM), P < 0.008; Fig. 2)
Summary
Pollination is a fascinating process in which immobile plants frequently use mobile animals to mate with spatially separated conspecifics. Recent studies have revealed a generalized pollination system in which a variety of insects visit a given plant species [4,5]. Little evidence is available about the relative efficiencies of multiple pollinators in increasing plant fitness, mainly owing to difficulties in observing the behavior of multiple pollinators in the field. Reproductive success is largely determined by the composition of pollen (i.e., selfpollen and outcross-pollen from near and distant pollen-donors) transported as a result of pollinator foraging behavior (e.g., pollen carryover). Little evidence is available on how and to what extent the pollen carryover affects the pollen-donor composition and on which insect taxa are effective outcross-pollen transporters under field conditions. We explored roles of foraging behavior of insect pollinators on pollen-donor composition and subsequent reproductive success in a woody plant
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