<i>Cardamine cordifolia</i> Pollination effects on seed and fruit production
Abstract
I investigated the pollination ecology of Cardamine. Cordifolia, and how pollinators affected fruit and seed production especially in relation to variation in herbivory and habitat type in 2 different sites. Site 1 was more exposed to the sunlight and site 2 was less exposed to the sunlight. I investigated the degree of self –compatibility, pollinator-visitation rates, correlation between floral traits and plant height, and fruit and seed production. I hypothesized that outcrossed pollen supplemental to flowers would increased fruit and seed set, that herbivore damage would impact the strength of pollen limitation and that longer floral traits and taller plants would be associated with increased pollinator visitation and plant reproduction. C. cordifolia was both self-compatible and pollinator limited, but outcrossed pollen supplemental plants produced more fruits and seeds than self-pollinated flowers. The difference in the proportion of fruit and seed set between no bag outcrossed and the open pollination treatments suggested pollen limitation of seed set. Pieridae (cabagge milky butterflies) performed more visits than any other visitors. Herbivore damage resulted in changes in how pollinators selected a plant. I found no correlation between floral traits and plant height. This study showed the complexity of a plant-animal interaction, and the benefits that each organism receive from it.
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