Bmh. Larson et Sch. Barrett, The ecology of pollen limitation in buzz-pollinated Rhexia virginica (Melastomataceae), J ECOLOGY, 87(3), 1999, pp. 371-381
1 Pollen limitation of female fertility has often been documented in animal
-pollinated plants, but seldom have the ecological mechanisms responsible b
een investigated. We examined factors influencing pollen limitation in Rhex
ia virginica (Melastomataceae), a species in which pollen transfer depends
on bumblebees capable of buzz pollination. Experimental studies were conduc
ted in two populations at Lake Matchedash, southern Ontario, Canada, where
the species occurs at the edge of its familial range.
2 Supplemental hand pollination of flowers increased their probability of f
ruit set compared with open-pollinated control flowers by an average of 57.
6%. Pollen limitation was assessed on a per flower basis because the median
floral display size at Lake Matchedash was one flower. Pollen limitation w
as prevalent throughout the 3-4-week blooming period in one population, whe
reas in the other it was only evident at the beginning of flowering, despit
e their close proximity.
3 Bumblebee visits (primarily Bombus impatients) to R. virginica flowers we
re infrequent and variable in their occurrence. Visitation was recorded on
14 days during flowering. The median number of visits was 0.65 bees per hou
r; on 6 days there was virtually no bee activity, but on 2 days visitation
rates were high. Variation in pollinator activity was apparently unrelated
to local weather conditions.
4 Field experiments demonstrated that the poricidal anthers of R. virginica
dispense pollen gradually, with only 10.2% of pollen removed from flowers
during a single bumblebee visit. This level of pollen removal is lower than
reported in other flowering plants. On average, 47.3% of pollen remained i
n anthers at the end of anthesis.
5 Investigation of the relation between pollen dispersal and pollen limitat
ion demonstrated a significant negative correlation between the proportion
of pollen removed from anthers on a given day and the intensity of pollen l
imitation. It appears that the pollen-dispensing mechanism of R. virginica
and infrequent visitation by bumblebees compromise pollen dispersal, causin
g pollen limitation in Ontario populations.