Fit or Unlit: using quantum dots to investigate the effects of a floricolous yeast and nectar robbing on male fitness in Ipomopsis aggregata
Abstract
The interaction network between pollinators, plants, and the microbes that inhabit them is not yet widely understood. Most studies of floral microbes have focused on the role of nectar yeasts (e.g., Metschnikowia reukaufii) in the behavior of bumblebee pollinators and how they affect the fitness of plant subjects. However, little is known about the effects of these microbes on the hummingbird-pollinated wildflower Ipomopsis aggregata. We used a full factorial experimental design with two treatment levels: supplementation with sterile vs. M. reukaufii-inoculated nectar analogue and artificial nectar robbing vs. no nectar robbing. We used fluorescent quantum dots to quantify how these factors affected the dispersal of pollen grains from donor plants by comparing pollen donation across the four plant treatments. Our results suggest potential male fitness advantage on robbed plants, evidenced by significantly higher pollen donation from robbed donor plants to neighboring individuals, irrespective of the presence of yeast. This indicates that nectar robbing in I. aggregata may promote outcrossing, impacting hummingbird visitation and pollen dispersal.
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References (19)
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