Abstract
We have re-examined the nectar status of Cistus creticus, a plant that was previously thought to be an almost exclusive pollen donor. Although attempts to extract nectar with the microcapillary method failed, rinsates of the ower interior yielded considerable amounts of sugar, yet with high interplant variation. Enzymatic microassays revealed that secreted sugar is adsorbed onto the surfaces of the numerous laments surrounding the nectary, on the dense pubescence of the ovary surrounded by the nectary and on the yellow base of the purplish-pink, free, obovate petals. The conclusion that C. creticus is an ecient nectar donor was further strengthened by video recording the behaviour of bees and by the high frequency of nectar thieves. We propose that the shallow ower shape and the overheating caused by solar tracking facilitate evaporative concentration of nectar. Alternatively (or in addition), the morphological proximity of the nectary to the laments and the ovary pubescence facilitates adsorption and the capillary action of the cell walls works antagonistically to glass microcapillaries precluding nectar collection. Addition of articial nectar in the eld had no eect on bee visit frequency but it increased visit duration signicantly and decreased abortion rates. In addition, seed yield was increased, especially under insect-limited conditions. We conclude that C. creticus is a nectar donor, and that nectar variation in the eld may modify pollinator behaviour and aect pollination success and the tness of the plant.
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Claims 6
Claim · model-written summary
Flower rinsates contained substantial sugar with high variation among plants.
- Taxon
- Cistus creticus
.jpg?width=60)
Cistus creticust0 - Outcome
- considerable amounts of sugare0
- Qualifier
- high interplant variatione0
Not reportedDirection
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
.jpg?width=500)
Verbatim
e0“rinsates of the ower interior yielded considerable amounts of sugar, yet with high interplant variation.”
t0“Cistus creticus”
Claim · model-written summary
Secreted sugar was adsorbed onto filaments, ovary pubescence and petal bases.
- Taxon
- Cistus creticusCistus creticust0
- Organ / stage
- nectarye0
- Outcome
- secreted sugar is adsorbede0
Not reportedDirection
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“secreted sugar is adsorbed onto the surfaces of the numerous laments surrounding the nectary, on the dense pubescence of the ovary surrounded by the nectary and on the yellow base of the purplish-pink, free, obovate petals.”
t0“Cistus creticus”
Claim · model-written summary
Artificial nectar did not affect bee visit frequency.
- Taxon
- Cistus creticusCistus creticust0
- Treatment
- Addition of articial nectare0
- Interactor
- bee
_Apis_mellifera_(female)_-_on_viburnum_tinus_flowers.jpg?width=60)
Apis melliferae0pollinator - Outcome
- bee visit frequencye0
Not reportedComparatorDirection
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
_Apis_mellifera_(female)_-_on_viburnum_tinus_flowers.jpg?width=500)
Verbatim
e0“Addition of articial nectar in the eld had no eect on bee visit frequency”
t0“Cistus creticus”
Claim · model-written summary
Artificial nectar significantly increased bee visit duration.
- Taxon
- Cistus creticusCistus creticust0
- Treatment
- articial nectare0
- Interactor
- beeApis melliferae0pollinator
- Outcome
- visit duratione0
- Direction
- increasede0
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Addition of articial nectar in the eld had no eect on bee visit frequency but it increased visit duration signicantly”
t0“Cistus creticus”
Claim · model-written summary
Artificial nectar decreased abortion rates.
- Taxon
- Cistus creticusCistus creticust0
- Treatment
- articial nectare0
- Outcome
- abortion ratese0
- Direction
- decreasede0
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Addition of articial nectar in the eld had no eect on bee visit frequency but it increased visit duration signicantly and decreased abortion rates.”
t0“Cistus creticus”
Claim · model-written summary
Artificial nectar increased seed yield, especially under insect-limited conditions.
- Taxon
- Cistus creticusCistus creticust0
- Treatment
- articial nectare0
- Outcome
- seed yielde0
- Direction
- increasede0
- Qualifier
- insect-limited conditionse0
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Addition of articial nectar in the eld had no eect on bee visit frequency but it increased visit duration signicantly and decreased abortion rates. In addition, seed yield was increased, especially under insect-limited conditions.”
t0“Cistus creticus”