Conspecific flowers of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Sinapis arvensis</Emphasis> are stronger competitors for pollinators than those of the invasive weed <Emphasis Type="Italic">Bunias orientalis</Emphasis> |
| |
Authors: | Email author" target="_blank">Axel?HochkirchEmail author Tamara?Mertes Julia?Rautenberg |
| |
Institution: | (1) Department of Biogeography, Trier University, 54286 Trier, Germany |
| |
Abstract: | Biological invasions can affect the structure and function of ecosystems and threaten native plant species. Since most weeds
rely on mutualistic relationships in their new environment, they may act as new competitors for pollinators. Pollinator competition
is likely to be density dependent, but it is often difficult to disentangle competition caused by flower quality from effects
caused by flower quantity. In order to test the effects of the presence and number of flowers of the invasive weed Bunias orientalis on the insect visitation rates in a native species (Sinapis arvensis), we performed two replacement experiments using plants with standardised flower numbers. The visitation rates in S. arvensis were significantly higher than in B. orientalis and the number of insect visits dropped significantly with increasing density of S. arvensis flowers. These results suggest that intraspecific competition among flowers of S. arvensis is stronger than the competitive effect of alien flowers. As flowers of B. orientalis do not seem to distract visitors from S. arvensis, it is unlikely that pollinator competition between these two plant species plays a crucial role. However, it cannot be excluded
that mass blossom stands of B. orientalis may distract flower visitors from native species. |
| |
Keywords: | |
本文献已被 SpringerLink 等数据库收录! |
|