Ants Contribute Significantly to the Pollination of a Biodiesel Plant,Jatropha curcas

摘要: ABSTRACT Ants are the most abundant visitors to flowers of Jatropha curcas L., but it is not clear how much they contribute pollination this plant. In study, we observed floral visitor assemblage and foraging behavior ants, measured pollen loads carried by ants deposited on stigmas, determined contribution female reproductive success J. through exclusion experiments. were pollinators, accounting for 71.03 78.17% total visits at two study sites. Among different ant species, Tapinoma melanocephalum (F.) always only common species sites, which might suggest its important role in curcas. Pollen significantly among increased with body length. Although exposed produced less fruit than those winged...