Humidity and the Pollination Activity of
Megachile rotundata

Bailey, W. G.; Lerer, H.; Mills, P. F.

doi:10.1093/ee/11.5.1063

Cited by 6 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 0 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…Considerable effort has been devoted to studying the former, but the abiotic interface between flowers and pollinators remains relatively neglected (see Corbet 1990 for review). Physical factors constrain the activity of pollinators (Lundberg 1980, Bailey et al 1982, Willmer 1983, Stone et al 1988, Herrera 1990), influence their behavior at flowers (Hocking 1968, Kevan 1975, Corbet 1978, Willmer 1986, Stanton and Galen 1989, and modify the quality, quantity, and presentation of floral 1 Manuscript received 17 January 1994; revised 21 April 1994; accepted 22 April 1994.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Floral Biology, Microclimate, and Pollination by Ectothermic Bees in an Early‐Blooming Herb

Herrera¹

1995

Ecology

150

161

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Abiotic factors may constrain the functioning of species interactions such as plant—pollinator mutualisms. I investigated how thermal environment affects the interaction between the early—blooming daffodil, Narcissus longispathus (Amaryllidaceae) and its major bee pollinator (Andrena biclor; Andrenidae), focusing simultaneously on plant and pollinator sides of the interaction. I studied fruit and seed set, flower duration, and the intrafloral thermal environment of N. longispathus, and the thermal biology, foraging behavior, and thermoregulatory ability of A. bicolor, over a 6—yr period in southeastern Spain. N. longispathus flowers from February to April, when unsuitable weather often limits pollinator activity, yet most flowers are successfully pollinated in all years and sites. Fruit set was weakly pollen limited, but among flowers setting fruit the proportion of ovules developing into seeds was not. Individual flowers lasted for 17 d on average, remaining functional during the period. On sunny days, the air inside N. longispathus flowers was significantly warmer than outside. Mean temperature excess inside flowers was as high as 8°C, and was positively related to solar irradiance. Within flowers, air temperature was highest around the anthers; this intrafloral gradient was consistent with variation among perianth parts in radiation transmittance. Andrena bicolor foraged in N. longispathus flowering patches only on sunny days with air temperature >12°—13°C, and foraging behavior and flower visitation rate when temperature dependent. Bees were able to fly at relatively low thoracic temperatures (Tth; range 22°—31°C) and this was essential for successfully foraging at N. longispathus. Under the range of irradiance and air temperature found at foraging sites, A. bicolor individuals inside flowers were able to reach Tth suitable for flight by passive means alone. Under laboratory conditions, A. bicolor was unable to raise or otherwise regulate Tth by physiological means, but free—flying individuals thermoregulated behaviorally. Basking was used to raise Tth, and intrafloral microclimate, by influencing the proportion of foraging time devoted to basking, played an important role in thermoregulaton. Flower visitation rate was positively related to the average temperature inside visited flowers, and the probability of basking immediately after one floral visit declined with increasing flower temperature. I conclude that the favorable microclimate within N. longispathus flowers, their long duration, and the thermal biology of A. bicolor, were critical elements in this early—season pollination system.

show abstract

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Floral Biology, Microclimate, and Pollination by Ectothermic Bees in an Early‐Blooming Herb

Herrera¹

1995

Ecology

150

161

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Todavía, estos autores notaron que cuan do la humedad relativa del aire fue alta, esas abejas gastaron mayor tiempo concentrando el néctar antes de almacenarlo y hubo menos tiempo para visitar las flores. Sin embargo, Bailey et al (1982) verificaron que la hume dad relativa tiene poco eft:: cto negativo en la actividad polinizadora de la abeja Megachile rotundata (Hymenoptera: Apoidea). Sihag & Abrol (1986) observaron que la actividad de vueló de las abejas Apis florea F. (Hymenop tera: Apidae) fue afectada por la temperatura y la concentración de azúcar en el néctar, los que a su vez estan directamente relacionados con la humedad relativa.…”

Section: Discussionunclassified

Número floral, clima, densidad pobladonai de <i>Xylocopa</i> spp. (Hymenoptera: Anthophoridae) y polinización del maracuyá (<i>Passiflora edulis f flavicarpa</i>)

Silva

Bruckner

Picanço

et al. 2015

RBT

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

La influencia del número de flores en la antesis del maracuyá (Passiflora edulis f. flavicarpa Deg.) y de los factores climáticos sobre la actividad polinizad ora y densidad poblacional de las abejas del género Xylocopa fue estudiada en condiciones de campo. El menor porcentaje de formación de frutos (14.3%) se observó cuando había menos de 0.8 flores en la antesis/m linear de "soporte". Entre 0.8 y 1.2 flores en antesis/m linear de "soporte" se observó aumento en el porcentaje de frutos formados y en el número de visitas por parte de la abeja. Con más de 1.2 flores en la antesis/m linear de "soporte", hubo menor porcentaje de frutos formados en función del número de visitas de la abeja. La mayor densidad de Xylocopa spp. (49abejas/halbora) se observó entre las 14: 00 y 15: 00 hr cuando los factores climáticos como la temperatura, la humedad relativa del ,aire y la insolación obtuvieron valores en torno 'de 26 ·C, 55% y 0.56, respectivamente, Temperatura y humedad relativa del aire arriba de esos valores redujeron la densidad de Xylocopa spp., mientras que con mayor insolación fue verificado aumento en la misma.

show abstract

“…They determined that most larval mortality occurred in the second and third instars and increased with duration of exposure to temperatures above 26°C. Several studies have examined the effect of environmental parameters on pollination activity of the alfalfa leafcutter bee (Szabo and Smith 1972;Osgood 1974;Lerer et al 1982;Bailey et al 1982), but these studies were concerned with environmental thresholds for initiation and cessation of foraging activity and did not document the effect on bee reproduction.…”

Section: The Canadian Ehtomouxiistmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effect of Environment and Equipment on Productivity of Alfalfa Leafcutter Bees (Hymenoptera: Megachilidae) in Southern Alberta, Canada

Richards

1996

Can Entomol

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

Humidity and the Pollination Activity of Megachile rotundata

Cited by 6 publications

References 0 publications

Floral Biology, Microclimate, and Pollination by Ectothermic Bees in an Early‐Blooming Herb

Floral Biology, Microclimate, and Pollination by Ectothermic Bees in an Early‐Blooming Herb

Número floral, clima, densidad pobladonai de <i>Xylocopa</i> spp. (Hymenoptera: Anthophoridae) y polinización del maracuyá (<i>Passiflora edulis f flavicarpa</i>)

Effect of Environment and Equipment on Productivity of Alfalfa Leafcutter Bees (Hymenoptera: Megachilidae) in Southern Alberta, Canada

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About