Effects of honeybee (Apis cerana) visiting behaviour on toxic plant (Tripterygium hypoglaucum) reproduction

Abstract Honeybees play a significant role in the plant–pollinator interactions of many flowering plants. The ecological and evolutionary consequences of plant–pollinator interactions vary by geographic region, and the effects of honeybees on the reproduction of toxic plants have not been well studi...

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Published in:AoB plants 2022-06, Vol.14 (3), p.plac002
Main Authors: Chen, Shunan, Wang, Yunfei, Li, Yi, Zhang, Xuewen, Wu, Jie
Format: Article
Language:English
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Studies
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Summary:Abstract Honeybees play a significant role in the plant–pollinator interactions of many flowering plants. The ecological and evolutionary consequences of plant–pollinator interactions vary by geographic region, and the effects of honeybees on the reproduction of toxic plants have not been well studied. We measured the florescence of toxic plants, the flower-visiting behaviour of honeybees and the effects of pollination on the fertility, weight and moisture content of seeds. The effects of climatic factors on the number of flowers, and the spatial and temporal variation in pollinator visits were evaluated, and the effects of pollinator visits on seed quality were evaluated. Flower visitors were diverse, climatic factors had a great impact on spatio-temporal flowering variation and the number of bee visits was strongly correlated with the spatio-temporal variation in the number of flowers. Honeybees strongly increase the fullness and weight of seeds. Our study demonstrated a good ecological fit between the spatio-temporal variation in the flowering of toxic plants and the general validity of honeybee pollination syndrome in the south of Hengduan Mountains in East Asia. A linear relationship between honeybee visitation and plant reproduction can benefit the stabilization of plant reproduction. We measured the florescence of toxic plants (Tripterygium hypoglaucum), behaviour of honeybee (Apis cerana) flower visiting and the effects of honeybee pollination on the reproduction of toxic plants. Flower visitors were diverse, climate factors had a great impact on the spatio-temporal variation of flowering and the number of bee visits was strongly correlated with the spatio-temporal variation of the number of flowers. Honeybees strongly facilitate the reproduction of toxic plants. Our study demonstrated a high ecological fit between the spatio-temporal variation of T. hypoglaucum flowering and the general validity of honeybee pollination syndrome in the south of Hengduan Mountains in East Asia.
ISSN:2041-2851
2041-2851
DOI:10.1093/aobpla/plac002