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Foliar damage modifies floral attractiveness to pollinators in Alstroemeria exerens

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Abstract

Pollination is a requisite for sexual reproduction in plants and its success may determine the reproductive output of individuals. Pollinator preference for some floral designs or displays that are lacking or poorly developed in focal plants may constrain the pollination process. Foliar herbivory may affect the expression of floral traits, thus reducing pollinator attraction. Natural populations of the Andean species Alstroemeria exerens (Alstromeriaceae) in central Chile show high levels of foliar herbivory, and floral traits show phenotypic variation. In the present field study, we addressed the attractive role of floral traits in A. exerens and the effect of foliar damage on them. Particularly, we posed the following questions: (1) Is there an association between floral display and design traits and the number and duration of pollinator visits? and (2) Does foliar damage affect the floral traits associated with pollinator visitation? To assess the attractiveness of floral traits for pollinators, we recorded the number and duration of visits in 101 focal plants. To evaluate the effects of foliar damage on floral traits, 100 plants of similar size were randomly assigned to control or damage groups during early bud development. Damaged plants were clipped using scissors (50% of leaf area) and control plants were manually excluded from natural herbivores (<5% of leaf area eaten). During the peak of flowering, we recorded the number of open flowers, and estimated corolla and nectar guide areas. The number and duration of pollinator visits was statistically associated with floral design and display traits. Plants with larger displays, corollas and nectar guide areas received more visits. Visits lasted longer as display increases. In addition, foliar damage affected attractive traits. Damaged plants had fewer open flowers and smaller nectar guide areas. We conclude that foliar damage affects plant attractiveness for pollinators and hence may indirectly affect plant fitness.

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Acknowledgments

We are grateful to P. Bocaz, A. A. Muñoz and C. Torres for their advice on pollinator identification. N. Peña, S. González and M. González-Teuber provided valuable help in all stages of field work. This manuscript was improved by comments from Paulina Salas and two anonymous reviewers. Partial financial support for field work was provided by FONDECYT 1030702 (EG). LSH thanks Graduates School of Universidad de Concepción and CONICYT.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departamento de Ciencias Ecológicas, Universidad de Chile, Casilla 653, Santiago, Chile

    Lorena H. Suárez

  2. Instituto de Ecología y Biodiversidad (IEB), Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile

    Lorena H. Suárez

  3. Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas y Fisiológicas, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru

    Wilfredo L. Gonzáles

  4. Departamento de Botánica, Universidad de Concepción, Concepcion, Chile

    Ernesto Gianoli

  5. Center for Advanced Studies in Ecology and Biodiversity (CASEB), P. Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile

    Lorena H. Suárez & Ernesto Gianoli

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  1. Lorena H. Suárez
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  2. Wilfredo L. Gonzáles
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  3. Ernesto Gianoli
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Correspondence to Lorena H. Suárez.

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Suárez, L.H., Gonzáles, W.L. & Gianoli, E. Foliar damage modifies floral attractiveness to pollinators in Alstroemeria exerens . Evol Ecol 23, 545–555 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10682-008-9254-4

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