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Pollination of the Crown ImperialFritillaria imperialis by Great TitsParus major

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Abstract

Visitations of flowers of the Crown Imperial by Great Tits at two different locations in Hessen, Germany, in 1990 and 1993 are described. The observations prove that flowers were visited because of the nectar; most likely pollination occurs during this visits. Similar reports from Europe are discussed. The significance of specific interactions including ecological generalists such as the Great Tit is considered in the context of the phylogenetic reconstruction of the development of co-adaptive syndroms.

Zusammenfassung

Beobachtungen von Kohlmeisen (Parus major) an Blütenständen der Kaiserkrone (Fritillaria imperialis) in Hessen zeigen, daß der Blütenbesuch des Nektars wegen erfolgte und daß dadurch mit größter Wahrscheinlichkeit eine Bestäubung der Pflanzen erreicht wird. Ähnliche Fälle aus Europa werden diskutiert. Die Bedeutung spezifischer Interaktionen unter Beteiligung ökologischer Generalisten wie der Kohlmeise für die Rekonstruktion der phylogenetischen Entstehung co-adaptiver Syndrome wird erörtert.

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Peters, W.S., Pirl, M., Gottsberger, G. et al. Pollination of the Crown ImperialFritillaria imperialis by Great TitsParus major . J Ornithol 136, 207–212 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01651242

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