Effects of Insect Damage to <i>Helianthella quinquenervis</i> (Asteraceae) Inflorescences on Pollinator Visitation

Abstract

Plant reproductive success is often influenced by not only direct effects of flower-eating herbivores (florivores) consuming floral tissues, but also the indirect effects of pollinator visitation. Previous literature suggests that florivore damage can negatively influence pollinator visitation, consequently having both direct and indirect effects on plant reproductive fitness. Studies have also shown that conspecific and heterospecific floral density can increase or decrease pollinator visitation. Here I determine the effects of inflorescence damage on pollinator visitation rate of a common perennial native to the Rocky Mountains, the aspen sunflower (Helianthella quinquenervis, Asteraceae). Damage on both the ray florets and disk florets of the sunflowers were found to decrease visitation of their two most common pollinators, bumble bees (Bombus spp.) and Muscid flies (Muscidae). Visitation rate was also observed for co-flowering heterospecifics of Helianthella within 1x1 meter observation plots to determine if damaged sunflower inflorescences influenced the visitation of blooming neighbors. However, data was insufficient to observe any effects. With Helianthella experiencing phenological shifts due to climate change—blooming earlier in early snowmelt years—floral abundance has declined due to frost susceptibility (Inouye 2008). Given that florivore damage also directly and indirectly affects plant fitness, it may be possible that Helianthella will experience an accelerated decline in abundance due to and increase in florivore competition and a decrease in pollinator visitation.

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