Reproduction in Polymonium: a five year study of seed production and implications for competition for pollinator service
Abstract
Conditions necessary for intraspecific competition for pollinator service, but not intraspecific competition itself, have previously been reported for a population of Polemonium foliossisimum Gray. As in most recent work of this sort, this conclusion was based, in part, on seed set differentials among individuals as well as between control and hand-pollinated flowers. Such differentials, when found for a single flowering season in perennial plants can, however, be misleading. Stored reserves might be drawn upon one season at the expense of the reproductive potential of later years negating an apparent reproductive increase. A five year study of seed set and flower production in a P. foliosissimum population indicates that no such reproductive tradeoff is occurring. Available information is consistent with the contention that intraspecific competition for pollinator service may have taken place and thus supports conclusions drawn from short term studies on P. foliosissimum.
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