How to be pollinated in case of toxicity?
(2019) 1ère Réunion Annuelle du GDR Pollinéco — Location: Montpellier (25.March.2019)
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- Abstract
- In an effort to better understand pollinator attractiveness in toxic plants, we investigated floral signals (colour, size, odours) and resources (pollen and nectar) in Aconitum napellus ssp lusitanicum. We predicted that plants and pollinators are in conflict of interest in this toxic, specialized, rewarding species. We assume that male reproductive success (pollen exportation) is more limited than female reproductive success (from pollen receipt to seed set). As bees move upward within the vertical inflorescences, from female to male phases, switches among inflorescences might to be favoured to increase seed set. No differences between male and female phases were detected in flower size, shape and colour. However, flowers produced different odour bunch during the male compared to the female phase (mainly in benzene ethanol and trans-β ocimene). Alkaloids were more diverse (22 molecules identified with aconitine as the most abundant alkaloid) and more concentrated in the pollen compared to the nectar. Nectar volumes were higher during the male phase than during the female phase. Insects (Apis mellifera, Bombus hortorum, B. pascuorum, B. terrestris) differed in their behaviour, fidelity and detection of the toxic alkaloid aconitine. Despite their toxicity due to a mixture of aconitine-like alkaloids, insects visited flowers during the male phase. Despite low pollen collection, the few legitimate visits were sufficient to insure pollen deposition and seed set in this species.
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Jacquemart, A.-L. (2019). How to be pollinated in case of toxicity? 1ère Réunion Annuelle du GDR Pollinéco, Montpellier. https://hdl.handle.net/2078.5/228196