Pollination subsidies between wetland and dry meadow habitats

Abstract

Productive habitats can provide subsidies to neighboring habitats in the form of resources and services; however, little is known about whether subsidies operate in pollination systems. I studied wetland and dry meadow habitats in a subalpine system to assess whether wetlands provide neighboring pollinators with resource subsidies, or if wetlands facilitate the pollination of nearby dry meadows. I measured flower production and observed pollinator visitation in three types of meadows: wetlands, near dry meadows, and far dry meadows. Additionally, I assessed pollinator similarity between meadow types and tracked pollen flow using fluorescent dye. I found no significant differences in overall floral density or pollinator visitation between meadow types. Pollinator similarity was high for both wetlands compared to near dry meadows, 85.9%, and wetlands compared to far meadows, 82.6%. More dye movement was observed in dry meadows than in wetlands, and there was no evidence of inter-habitat pollen movement. Concerning the two major assumptions underlying the subsidy hypothesis, my results question the assumption that wetlands provide higher floral rewards than dry meadows and confirm the assumption that wetlands and dry meadows share pollinators. I found no evidence supporting the potential for a wetland-dry meadow subsidy in this system. Given the fundamental importance of pollination services in natural systems, this study provides needed research on the pollination biology of wetland and dry meadow species in subalpine ecosystems. 3

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