<p>Heterospecific pollen transfer (HPT) can strongly influence pollination success; yet, how HPT is mediated by the co-flowering context and by pollinator diversity remains poorly understood. Here, we fitted a structural equation model to assess the underlying relationship between multiple community attributes (co-flowering species diversity, floral traits, floral display size), floral visitation patterns (visitation rate and diversity), and quality (heterospecific pollen load size and richness), and quantity (pollen tubes produced) aspects of pollination success. We further investigated the impact of a super-generalist plant (<i>Alternanthera microcephala</i>) and pollinator species (<i>Apis mellifera</i>) on HPT and pollination success. Results show that HPT has a negative effect on the pollination success of co-flowering species. However, the effect was via heterospecific pollen richness rather than heterospecific pollen load size. Floral trait diversity increased pollinator “specialization” (i.e., few pollinators visiting plant species), reducing HPT and increased pollination success. Varying effects of co-flowering diversity were observed on pollinator “generalization”, HPT, and pollination success, while floral display size increased pollinator visitation rate and heterospecific pollen transfer. Surprisingly, increasing visitation rate of <i>A. mellifera</i> decreased HPT. Meanwhile, increasing <i>A. microcephala</i> floral display size positively affected HPT. Our findings revealed that HPT and pollination success are simultaneously influenced by the co-flowering context and the pollinator community, but in different directions (positive or negative). We also show that super-generalist species can be strong mediators of pollinator-mediated plant-plant interactions and pollination success.</p>

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Heterospecific pollen transfer and pollination success are simultaneously mediated by co-flowering diversity and super-generalist species

  • Cristopher Albor,
  • Gerardo Arceo-Gómez,
  • Alexander Suárez-Mariño,
  • Víctor Parra-Tabla

摘要

Heterospecific pollen transfer (HPT) can strongly influence pollination success; yet, how HPT is mediated by the co-flowering context and by pollinator diversity remains poorly understood. Here, we fitted a structural equation model to assess the underlying relationship between multiple community attributes (co-flowering species diversity, floral traits, floral display size), floral visitation patterns (visitation rate and diversity), and quality (heterospecific pollen load size and richness), and quantity (pollen tubes produced) aspects of pollination success. We further investigated the impact of a super-generalist plant (Alternanthera microcephala) and pollinator species (Apis mellifera) on HPT and pollination success. Results show that HPT has a negative effect on the pollination success of co-flowering species. However, the effect was via heterospecific pollen richness rather than heterospecific pollen load size. Floral trait diversity increased pollinator “specialization” (i.e., few pollinators visiting plant species), reducing HPT and increased pollination success. Varying effects of co-flowering diversity were observed on pollinator “generalization”, HPT, and pollination success, while floral display size increased pollinator visitation rate and heterospecific pollen transfer. Surprisingly, increasing visitation rate of A. mellifera decreased HPT. Meanwhile, increasing A. microcephala floral display size positively affected HPT. Our findings revealed that HPT and pollination success are simultaneously influenced by the co-flowering context and the pollinator community, but in different directions (positive or negative). We also show that super-generalist species can be strong mediators of pollinator-mediated plant-plant interactions and pollination success.