Spatiotemporal Variations in Seed Set and Pollen Limitation in Populations of the Rare Generalist Species Polemonium caeruleum in Poland

• DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2021.755830
• Publication Date: 2022-01-03T05:16:22Z
• Authors: Justyna Ryniewicz; Katarzyna Roguz; Paweł Mirski; Emilia Brzosko; Mateusz Skłodowski; Ada Wróblewska; Beata Ostrowiecka; Izabela Tałałaj; Edyta Jermakowicz; Marcin Zych
• Keywords: Pollen source

A vast majority of angiosperms are pollinated by animals, and a decline in the number diversity insects often affects plant reproduction through pollen limitation. This phenomenon may be particularly severe rare species, whose populations shrinking. Here, we examined variability factors shaping reproductive success limitation red-listed Polemonium caeruleum L. During 5-year study several P. (7-15, depending on year), assessed degree based differences seed set between open-pollinated (control) hand-pollinated flowers. We analysed effects flower visitors, population size, meteorological data Our showed that rarely affected populations, was present mainly small populations. Pollen index negatively size population, visitation frequency all insects, when considering individual groups, also honeybee visits. Seed production control treatment positively influenced average monthly precipitation June visits hoverflies, while honeybees, temperature September, August negatively. As generalist can diverse insect however, their main honeybees bumblebees, less attracted, eventually leading to disappearance these In pollination managed play dual role: they most frequent efficient presence decreases flowers, which is probably related collection insects.