The ecology of pollination and nectar robbing in Linaria vulgaris in the Colorado Rocky Mountains.
Published: 2004
Language: eng
Number of pages: 81
Description: Cheaters affect most mutualisms, but their effects remain misunderstood. This thesis investigates aspects of plant-nectar robber interactions in Linaria vulgaris.Nectar robbing reduced pollinator visitation and nectar standing crop. This suggests that robbers negatively affect fitness; however, researchers have found no such effect. Aspects of floral development, inflorescence architecture, and robber behaviour may mitigate the costs of nectar larceny.I suggest that L. vulgaris has a number of characteristics that make nectar robbing negligible. These include vertical patterns of flower maturation, separated nectaries and nectar storage, and closed corollas.Robbed plants attracted more ants than unrobbed plants. Ant access reduced herbivory and increased fitness. Robbing had no effect, but had weak interactions with ant access.Researchers interested in nectar robbers should consider when and why the outcomes of multi-species relationships vary. Such a viewpoint may infuse community ecology with new insights about species interactions and their roles in ecosystem function.
Notes: Adviser:  James D. Thomson.

Thesis (M.Sc.)--University of Toronto, 2004.

Electronic version licensed for access by U. of T. users.

Source: Masters Abstracts International, Volume: 43-03, page: 0773.

MICR copy on microfiche (1 microfiche).