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Nocturnal and diurnal pollination of Clerodendrum molle (Verbenaceae) in the Galápagos Islands

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Abstract

The primary hypothesis of this study was that in the Galápagos Islands, fruit and seed set via nocturnal pollination would exceed that of diurnal pollination because of the greater insect activity at night typical of hot, arid regions. Clerodendrum molle, a widespread member of the Galápagos flora was submitted to pollination experiments, visitor observations, nectar sampling, pollen transfer studies, pollen–ovule ratio studies, and pollen measurements. Flowers set fruit and seed via open pollination, autonomous autogamy, facilitated autogamy, facilitated cross-pollination, diurnal pollination, and nocturnal pollination. Results indicate no significant difference in fruit set. Cross-pollinated flowers showed a significant increase in seed set over all treatments except facilitated autogamy. Nocturnal and diurnal fruit and seed set did not differ significantly. Nocturnal visitors included ants, spiders, hawk moths, and roaches whereas diurnal visitors included carpenter bees and ants. Galápagos members of C. molle exhibit incomplete protandry and set fruit via autonomous autogamy as a result of natural selection in an environment with few faithful pollinators. Overall low fruit and seed set are likely because of a combination of pollen and resource limitation, the latter exacerbated by nectar robbing. Studies of island angiosperms are crucial for complete understanding of the population dynamics of indigenous plants, which can assist conservation officials in protecting these species.

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Acknowledgments

I thank the Charles Darwin Foundation, the Charles Darwin Research Station, the Galápagos National Park Service, and TAME Airlines for logistical support. Chantal Blanton, Laura Chellis, Felipe Cruz, Jacqueline and Tui De Roy, Andre Mauchamp, Godfrey Merlen, and David Sutherland are acknowledged for their contributions to the success of this study. I also thank Bernard Landry, Rolf Meier, Stewart Peck, Lazaro Roque-Albelo, and Leon Baert for insect and spider identifications; Brent Marnell and Jorge Samaniego for excellent field assistance; Alex Stella, Erin Culpepper, and Emily Treadaway for pollen counts and measurements; William Flint and Jon Kastendiek for constructive discussions and assistance with statistical analyses; and Gregory Anderson for reviewing an earlier version of the manuscript. National Geographic Society Grant 5014-93 provided most of the funding for this study.

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  1. Department of Biology, MSC 7801, James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA, 22807, USA

    Conley K. McMullen

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McMullen, C.K. Nocturnal and diurnal pollination of Clerodendrum molle (Verbenaceae) in the Galápagos Islands. Plant Syst Evol 292, 15–23 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00606-010-0395-x

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