HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

What's this?

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Submit a response Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in Web of Science Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Web of Science (14) Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Fenster, C. B. Articles by Reynolds, R. J. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Fenster, C. B. Articles by Reynolds, R. J. Agricola Articles by Fenster, C. B. Articles by Reynolds, R. J. Social Bookmarking                            What's this?

Nectar reward and advertisement in hummingbird-pollinated Silene virginica (Caryophyllaceae)¹

Department of Biology, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland 20742 USA; ³Mountain Lake Biological Station, Pembroke, Virginia 24136 USA; and ⁴Department of Biology, Amherst College, Amherst, Massachusetts 01002 USA

ABSTRACT

We tested for an association between nectar and various floral traits and investigated their roles as primary and secondary pollinator attractants in hummingbird-pollinated Silene virginica. Our goal was to gain insight into the mechanisms of pollinator-mediated selection that underlies floral trait divergence within the genus. In a field population of S. virginica, we measured five floral and eight vegetative traits and quantified nectar volume, nectar sugar concentration, and total sugar reward (nectar volume x nectar sugar concentration). All three components of nectar reward were positively correlated to flower size, and nectar volume varied significantly among individuals within the population. To ascertain whether the correlation of specific floral traits with nectar reward influences the behavior of the primary pollinator of S. virginica, the ruby-throated hummingbird, Archilochus colubris, we investigated whether A. colubris preferred the expression of floral traits associated with high nectar volume and total sugar reward. We accomplished this by constructing floral arrays consisting of artificial flowers that had equal nectar quantity and total sugar reward but that differed in petal area and corolla tube diameter, which were positively correlated with nectar quantity and total sugar reward in our field study. In observations of visitation frequencies to the various floral-trait combinations, hummingbirds preferentially visited artificial floral phenotypes with larger petal displays, with the greatest preference for floral phenotypes with both larger petals and wider corolla-tube diameters. This association between primary and secondary floral attractants and hummingbird discrimination of floral features supports the concept that the floral traits of S. virginica reflect pollinator-mediated selection by the principal pollinator.

Key Words: advertisement • Allegheny Mountains • Caryophyllaceae • hummingbird • nectar reward • pollination syndrome • pollinator-mediated selection

CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Facebook    Reddit    Technorati    Twitter    What's this?

This article has been cited by other articles:

				Y.-W. Zhang, Q. Yu, J.-M. Zhao, and Y.-H. Guo Differential effects of nectar robbing by the same bumble-bee species on three sympatric Corydalis species with varied mating systems Ann. Bot., July 1, 2009; 104(1): 33 - 39. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. M Gomez, J. Bosch, F. Perfectti, J.D Fernandez, M. Abdelaziz, and J.P.M Camacho Spatial variation in selection on corolla shape in a generalist plant is promoted by the preference patterns of its local pollinators Proc R Soc B, October 7, 2008; 275(1648): 2241 - 2249. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. M. Gomez, J. Bosch, F. Perfectti, J. D. Fernandez, M. Abdelaziz, and J. P. M. Camacho Association Between Floral Traits and Rewards in Erysimum mediohispanicum (Brassicaceae) Ann. Bot., June 1, 2008; 101(9): 1413 - 1420. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]