Nectar robbing by bees affects the reproductive fitness of the distylous plant Tirpitzia sinensis (Linaceae)
Abstract Nectar robbing can affect plant reproductive success directly by influencing female and male fitness, and indirectly by affecting pollinator behavior. Flowers have morphological and chemical features that may protect them from nectar robbers. Previous studies on nectar robbing have focused...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wiley
2023-11-01
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| Series: | Ecology and Evolution |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.10714 |
| _version_ | 1827630886710935552 |
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| author | Xiaoyue Wang Renxiu Yao Xiaoqin Lv Yin Yi Xiaoxin Tang |
| author_facet | Xiaoyue Wang Renxiu Yao Xiaoqin Lv Yin Yi Xiaoxin Tang |
| author_sort | Xiaoyue Wang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Nectar robbing can affect plant reproductive success directly by influencing female and male fitness, and indirectly by affecting pollinator behavior. Flowers have morphological and chemical features that may protect them from nectar robbers. Previous studies on nectar robbing have focused mainly on homotypic plants. It remains unclear how nectar robbing affects the reproductive success of distylous plants, and whether defense strategies of two morphs are different. Nectar‐robbing rates on the long‐ and short‐styled morph (L‐morph, S‐morph) of the distylous Tirpitzia sinensis were investigated. We compared floral traits, the temporal pattern of change in nectar volume and sugar concentration, nectar secondary metabolites, and sugar composition between robbed and unrobbed flowers of two morphs. We tested direct effects of nectar robbing on female and male components of plant fitness and indirect effects of nectar robbing via pollinators. Nectar‐robbing rates did not differ between the two morphs. Flowers with smaller sepals and petals were more easily robbed. The floral tube diameter and thickness were greater in L‐morphs than in S‐morphs, and the nectar rob holes were significantly smaller in L‐morphs than in S‐morphs. Nectar robbing significantly decreased nectar replenishment rate but did not affect nectar sugar concentration or sugar composition. After robbery, the quantities and diversity of secondary compounds in the nectar of S‐morphs increased significantly and total relative contents of secondary compounds in L‐morphs showed no obvious changes. Nectar robbing could decrease female fitness by decreasing pollen germination rate and thus decreasing seed set. Nectar robbing had no significant effects on male fitness. Robbed flowers were less likely to be visited by hawkmoth pollinators, especially in S‐morphs. These results suggest that nectar robbing could directly and indirectly decrease the female fitness of T. sinensis, and different morphs have evolved different defense mechanisms in response to nectar‐robbing pressure. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T14:14:20Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-fd7729499d754bd6b0205b764dcf02a9 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2045-7758 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T14:14:20Z |
| publishDate | 2023-11-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Ecology and Evolution |
| spelling | doaj.art-fd7729499d754bd6b0205b764dcf02a92023-11-29T05:44:08ZengWileyEcology and Evolution2045-77582023-11-011311n/an/a10.1002/ece3.10714Nectar robbing by bees affects the reproductive fitness of the distylous plant Tirpitzia sinensis (Linaceae)Xiaoyue Wang0Renxiu Yao1Xiaoqin Lv2Yin Yi3Xiaoxin Tang4Key Laboratory of State Forestry Administration on Biodiversity Conservation in Karst Mountainous Areas of Southwestern China Guizhou Normal University Guiyang ChinaKey Laboratory of State Forestry Administration on Biodiversity Conservation in Karst Mountainous Areas of Southwestern China Guizhou Normal University Guiyang ChinaKey Laboratory of State Forestry Administration on Biodiversity Conservation in Karst Mountainous Areas of Southwestern China Guizhou Normal University Guiyang ChinaKey Laboratory of State Forestry Administration on Biodiversity Conservation in Karst Mountainous Areas of Southwestern China Guizhou Normal University Guiyang ChinaKey Laboratory of State Forestry Administration on Biodiversity Conservation in Karst Mountainous Areas of Southwestern China Guizhou Normal University Guiyang ChinaAbstract Nectar robbing can affect plant reproductive success directly by influencing female and male fitness, and indirectly by affecting pollinator behavior. Flowers have morphological and chemical features that may protect them from nectar robbers. Previous studies on nectar robbing have focused mainly on homotypic plants. It remains unclear how nectar robbing affects the reproductive success of distylous plants, and whether defense strategies of two morphs are different. Nectar‐robbing rates on the long‐ and short‐styled morph (L‐morph, S‐morph) of the distylous Tirpitzia sinensis were investigated. We compared floral traits, the temporal pattern of change in nectar volume and sugar concentration, nectar secondary metabolites, and sugar composition between robbed and unrobbed flowers of two morphs. We tested direct effects of nectar robbing on female and male components of plant fitness and indirect effects of nectar robbing via pollinators. Nectar‐robbing rates did not differ between the two morphs. Flowers with smaller sepals and petals were more easily robbed. The floral tube diameter and thickness were greater in L‐morphs than in S‐morphs, and the nectar rob holes were significantly smaller in L‐morphs than in S‐morphs. Nectar robbing significantly decreased nectar replenishment rate but did not affect nectar sugar concentration or sugar composition. After robbery, the quantities and diversity of secondary compounds in the nectar of S‐morphs increased significantly and total relative contents of secondary compounds in L‐morphs showed no obvious changes. Nectar robbing could decrease female fitness by decreasing pollen germination rate and thus decreasing seed set. Nectar robbing had no significant effects on male fitness. Robbed flowers were less likely to be visited by hawkmoth pollinators, especially in S‐morphs. These results suggest that nectar robbing could directly and indirectly decrease the female fitness of T. sinensis, and different morphs have evolved different defense mechanisms in response to nectar‐robbing pressure.https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.10714defense strategiesdistylynectar robbingplant fitnessreproductive success |
| spellingShingle | Xiaoyue Wang Renxiu Yao Xiaoqin Lv Yin Yi Xiaoxin Tang Nectar robbing by bees affects the reproductive fitness of the distylous plant Tirpitzia sinensis (Linaceae) Ecology and Evolution defense strategies distyly nectar robbing plant fitness reproductive success |
| title | Nectar robbing by bees affects the reproductive fitness of the distylous plant Tirpitzia sinensis (Linaceae) |
| title_full | Nectar robbing by bees affects the reproductive fitness of the distylous plant Tirpitzia sinensis (Linaceae) |
| title_fullStr | Nectar robbing by bees affects the reproductive fitness of the distylous plant Tirpitzia sinensis (Linaceae) |
| title_full_unstemmed | Nectar robbing by bees affects the reproductive fitness of the distylous plant Tirpitzia sinensis (Linaceae) |
| title_short | Nectar robbing by bees affects the reproductive fitness of the distylous plant Tirpitzia sinensis (Linaceae) |
| title_sort | nectar robbing by bees affects the reproductive fitness of the distylous plant tirpitzia sinensis linaceae |
| topic | defense strategies distyly nectar robbing plant fitness reproductive success |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.10714 |
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