Why Petals? Naïve, but Not Experienced Bees, Preferentially Visit Flowers with Larger Visual Signals
Flower evolution includes a range of questions concerning the function of showy morphological features such as petals. Despite extensive research on the role of petals in attracting pollinators, there has been little experimental testing of their importance in attracting naïve versus experienced flo...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-01-01
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| Series: | Insects |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/14/2/130 |
| _version_ | 1797620262485622784 |
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| author | Nicholas J. Balfour Francis L. W. Ratnieks |
| author_facet | Nicholas J. Balfour Francis L. W. Ratnieks |
| author_sort | Nicholas J. Balfour |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Flower evolution includes a range of questions concerning the function of showy morphological features such as petals. Despite extensive research on the role of petals in attracting pollinators, there has been little experimental testing of their importance in attracting naïve versus experienced flower-visitors. In an exploratory field study, we manipulated the ray petals of inflorescences of two garden flowers, <i>Rudbeckia hirta</i> and <i>Helenium autumnale,</i> to test the hypothesis that these showy structures primarily function to attract first-time, naïve, visitors. On their first inflorescence visit to both species, naïve honey bees and bumble bees were more likely to visit intact inflorescences, than those with ray petals removed. However, by the tenth consecutive inflorescence on the same visit to the flower patch, test insects showed no preference. A positive correlation was observed between the visitation of inflorescences with zero petals and inflorescence number on both study plants, for both bees. These results suggest that a key function of showy petals is to attract naïve, first-time visitors. Similar to how a restaurant attracts diners with a large sign, showy signals may be vital to enticing first-time visitors when competing with other establishments or plants for customers or pollinators. We hope the findings of this exploratory study will stimulate further work in this area. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T08:39:38Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-62c906b50cad402387f475d023fa976b |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2075-4450 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T08:39:38Z |
| publishDate | 2023-01-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Insects |
| spelling | doaj.art-62c906b50cad402387f475d023fa976b2023-11-16T21:14:15ZengMDPI AGInsects2075-44502023-01-0114213010.3390/insects14020130Why Petals? Naïve, but Not Experienced Bees, Preferentially Visit Flowers with Larger Visual SignalsNicholas J. Balfour0Francis L. W. Ratnieks1Laboratory of Apiculture & Social Insects, School of Life Sciences, University of Sussex, Brighton BN1 9QG, UKLaboratory of Apiculture & Social Insects, School of Life Sciences, University of Sussex, Brighton BN1 9QG, UKFlower evolution includes a range of questions concerning the function of showy morphological features such as petals. Despite extensive research on the role of petals in attracting pollinators, there has been little experimental testing of their importance in attracting naïve versus experienced flower-visitors. In an exploratory field study, we manipulated the ray petals of inflorescences of two garden flowers, <i>Rudbeckia hirta</i> and <i>Helenium autumnale,</i> to test the hypothesis that these showy structures primarily function to attract first-time, naïve, visitors. On their first inflorescence visit to both species, naïve honey bees and bumble bees were more likely to visit intact inflorescences, than those with ray petals removed. However, by the tenth consecutive inflorescence on the same visit to the flower patch, test insects showed no preference. A positive correlation was observed between the visitation of inflorescences with zero petals and inflorescence number on both study plants, for both bees. These results suggest that a key function of showy petals is to attract naïve, first-time visitors. Similar to how a restaurant attracts diners with a large sign, showy signals may be vital to enticing first-time visitors when competing with other establishments or plants for customers or pollinators. We hope the findings of this exploratory study will stimulate further work in this area.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/14/2/130beesbehaviourflowersfloral advertisingforagingray petals |
| spellingShingle | Nicholas J. Balfour Francis L. W. Ratnieks Why Petals? Naïve, but Not Experienced Bees, Preferentially Visit Flowers with Larger Visual Signals Insects bees behaviour flowers floral advertising foraging ray petals |
| title | Why Petals? Naïve, but Not Experienced Bees, Preferentially Visit Flowers with Larger Visual Signals |
| title_full | Why Petals? Naïve, but Not Experienced Bees, Preferentially Visit Flowers with Larger Visual Signals |
| title_fullStr | Why Petals? Naïve, but Not Experienced Bees, Preferentially Visit Flowers with Larger Visual Signals |
| title_full_unstemmed | Why Petals? Naïve, but Not Experienced Bees, Preferentially Visit Flowers with Larger Visual Signals |
| title_short | Why Petals? Naïve, but Not Experienced Bees, Preferentially Visit Flowers with Larger Visual Signals |
| title_sort | why petals naive but not experienced bees preferentially visit flowers with larger visual signals |
| topic | bees behaviour flowers floral advertising foraging ray petals |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/14/2/130 |
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