interspecific pollen transfer between two coflowering species was minimized by bumblebee fidelity and differential pollen placement on the bumblebee body

摘要: Aims When sympatric flowering plant species in a natural community share pollinators, study of plant–plant interactions via interspecific pollen transfer (iPT) is essential for understanding coexistence. However, little known about the extent iPT between interactive and its causes. Methods To explore how plants sharing pollinators minimize deleterious effects iPT, we investigated pollination ecology two endemic species, Salvia przewalskii Delphinium yuanum, an alpine meadow Hengduan mountains, southwest China. We quantified conspecific visits by shared bumblebee amounts placed on differ ent body sites stigmatic loads openpollinated flowers. examine whether affects female fitness, measured germination seed production artificial experiment. Important Findings one Bombus trifasciatus, was found to be sole effective pollinator coflowering species. Pollination experiments indicated that deposition heterospecific could significantly decrease set both Experiments showed S. przewalskii germinate well stigmas D. yuanum, inhibiting D. yuanum. not lower under open than cross-pollination within suggesting no fitness loss caused iPT. foraging bouts with switches, switches from D. yuanum were relatively more frequent (8.27%) converse (1.72%). S. prze walskii D. yuanum accounted only 1.82% total while reverse 8.70%, indicating bumblebees did result higher contrast, selection reduced would limit yuanum. generally carried grains but differed position placement bumblebee’s body; S. przewalskii’ s concentrated dorsal thorax D. yuanum’ ventrally head. This differential along fidelity largely pollinator.