干旱区生态环境知识资源中心(Arid): Does persistence of showy calyces in Limonium leptolobum enhance pollinator attraction?

Arid

	Does persistence of showy calyces in Limonium leptolobum enhance pollinator attraction?
	Zhang Aiqin; He Shuang; Zhai Yaxin; Huang Shuangquan
来源期刊	Journal of Plant Ecology
ISSN	1752-9921
出版年	2015
卷号	8 期号:2 页码:182-186
英文摘要	Aims The calyx, the outermost whorl of a flower (usually green), has been considered to function to protect flowers. In some species, however, calyces are colorful and retained during seed development. Limonium species have been exploited as cut flower crops because the calyces persist for several months after the corolla has closed. To explore the adaptive significance of the persistent calyx in a desert plant Limonium leptolobum, we ask whether persistence of calyces can enhance pollinator attraction by enlarging floral displays, increasing reproductive success in this self-incompatible species. Methods The yellow flower of L. leptolobum lasted 1-2 days but its white, membranous calyx extended fully after the corolla closed, and persisted for over 2 months in the field, making hundreds of 'showy flowers' on one individual. To examine the ecological function of calyces, we test the pollinator attraction hypothesis. In an experimental population, we compared the difference in visit frequency and visitor behavior between intact inflorescences and inflorescences with their calyces removed on the same individual plants. Important findings In four experimental plots four types of floral visitors were observed including bees, butterflies, syrphid flies and day-flying moths. No significant preference was observed between calyx-free and intact inflorescences for both first arrivals and total visit frequency of all types of floral visitors, indicating that the persistence of calyces did not make plants more attractive to potential pollinators. The pollinator attraction hypothesis for the showy calyces was not supported by the current data. Whether the calyx in this desert plant helps seed development or has other functions needs further study.
英文关键词	Limonium leptolobum calyx floral traits pollinator preference advertisement ecological function
类型	Article
语种	英语
开放获取类型	Bronze
收录类别	CSCD
WOS研究方向	Life Sciences & Biomedicine - Other Topics
CSCD记录号	CSCD:5556133
资源类型	期刊论文
条目标识符	http://119.78.100.177/qdio/handle/2XILL650/335567
作者单位	Zhang Aiqin, College of Life Science and Technology, Xinjiang University, Urumqi, Xinjiang 830046, China.; He Shuang, College of Life Science and Technology, Xinjiang University, Urumqi, Xinjiang 830046, China.; Zhai Yaxin, College of Life Science and Technology, Xinjiang University, Urumqi, Xinjiang 830046, China.; Huang Shuangquan, School of Life Sciences, Central China Normal University, Wuhan, Hubei 430079, China.
推荐引用方式 GB/T 7714	Zhang Aiqin,He Shuang,Zhai Yaxin,et al. Does persistence of showy calyces in Limonium leptolobum enhance pollinator attraction?[J],2015,8(2):182-186.
APA	Zhang Aiqin,He Shuang,Zhai Yaxin,&Huang Shuangquan.(2015).Does persistence of showy calyces in Limonium leptolobum enhance pollinator attraction?.Journal of Plant Ecology,8(2),182-186.
MLA	Zhang Aiqin,et al."Does persistence of showy calyces in Limonium leptolobum enhance pollinator attraction?".Journal of Plant Ecology 8.2(2015):182-186.