Effects of Forest Cover on Fruit Set in the Woodland Herb, <em>Maianthemum canadense</em> (Liliaceae)

Abstract

. 2008. Effects of forest cover on fruit set in the woodland herb, Maianthemum canadense (Liliaceae). Canadian Field-Naturalist 122(3): 234-238.Animal pollination has been recognized as an essential ecosystem function that is potentially under various environmental stresses. We investigated the landscape effects of forest cover at multiple spatial scales on the sexual reproductive success of a common woodland herb in North America, Maianthemum canadense. This species is a self-incompatible species and pollinated by insects requiring natural landscapes. Nine populations were selected in deciduous forests within agricultural fields of southern Ontario, Canada. We investigated whether fruiting success decreases as forest cover surrounding the plant populations increases at the landscape scale. Forest cover was quantified by the proportion of forest within six different radii from 250 to 1500 m. Analyses showed relationships with the proportion of forest at 750-and 1000-m radii and fruiting success in populations of M. canadense. These findings suggest potential local extirpation of M. canadense and indicate that forest loss can negatively impact on even some common woodland herbs.

Assessing the integrated effects of landscape fragmentation on plants and plant communities: the challenge of multiprocess–multiresponse dynamics

“…There were instances of isolation benefiting plant species by increasing fecundity [Cascante‐Marin et al . ; although the increase in flowers may not translate to an increase in seeds (Taki, Kevan & Yamaura )], decreasing herbivory/predation (Farwig et al . ) and by increasing colonization, mainly of wind dispersed species [Graae ; although these may also be negatively affected by isolation (Soons et al .…”

Responses of insect pollinators and understory plants to silviculture in northern hardwood forests

“…This light is associated with higher understory plant species richness and abundance, especially of shade-intolerant, early-successional species (Fye 1972;Bouget and Duelli 2004;Shields and Webster 2007;Falk et al 2010). As herbaceous cover increases, so does the amount of floral resources (Romey et al 2007;Quintero et al 2010) and, despite evidence that forest loss in fragmented landscapes can be deleterious to plantpollinator interactions (Didham et al 1996;Kearns et al 1998;Steffan-Dewenter et al 2002;Taki et al , 2008, many studies in continuously forested ecosystems have shown that disturbance increases abundance and richness of insect pollinators (e.g., Bouget and Duelli 2004;Nol et al 2006;Campbell et al 2007;Romey et al 2007;Deans et al 2007). …”

Towards a better understanding of the relationships between pollinators, human well‐being, and medicine plants in the Great Lakes Region of Eastern North America

“…The common woodland herb Maianthemum canadense is self‐incompatible and requires pollination by insects (particularly hoverflies and bees) (Taki et al, 2008). This plant has been found to have a decreased sexual reproductive output due to the loss of insect pollinators where pesticides have been used to treat forest pests (Kevan & Plowright, 1995).…”

“…Hog peanut does, however, have plasticity within its mating system, which allows the plant to adjust its reproductive strategy based on environmental conditions (Trapp & Hendrix, 1988). To have the ability to outcross between populations, this requires the management of plant populations of adequate size and within an appropriate distance for access by relevant pollinators (Taki et al, 2008). This is a key feature for avoiding inbreeding depression in plant populations.…”

“…This plant has been found to have a decreased sexual reproductive output due to the loss of insect pollinators where pesticides have been used to treat forest pests (Kevan & Plowright, 1995). Populations of M. canadense are able to persist in the short term using clonal reproduction, but eventually the lack of insect pollination causes a decrease in genetic diversity in the population (Taki et al, 2008). Taki et al (2008) found that maintaining even this common forest herb requires consideration and management in a fragmented landscape (e.g., effort to increase forest cover).…”