Competition and Facilitation among Plants for Pollination

Integration of alien plants into a native flower–pollinator visitation web

“…Other interactions could be mutually beneficial. Aliens and natives flowering concurrently sometimes facilitate each others' attraction of pollinators (Rathcke 1983), whereas those flowering in different seasons may indirectly act as mutualists by jointly maintaining pollinator populations at high levels (Waser & Real 1979). Dandelion, Taraxacum officinale Agg., is one example of an alien plant in many areas which sometimes 'feeds' insects such as bees that are critical pollinators of natives at other times in the season (Petanidou & Ellis 1996).…”

Indirect interactions between invasive and native plants via pollinators

“…Such situations are possible when alien plant species invade new communities and start interacting indirectly with native species through shared pollinators (e.g., Richardson et al 2000;Stout et al 2002;Ghazoul 2004). Alien plant species can also increase the floral display in a community and by attracting more pollinator species facilitate pollination of neighbouring resident species (e.g., Thomson 1982;Rathcke 1983;Feldman et al 2004;Ghazoul 2006). For example, Johnson et al (2003) showed that plant species providing large quantities of nectar increased the local abundance of pollinators and, as a consequence, the co-occurring, non-rewarding orchid Anacamptis morio (L.) Bateman, Pridgeon & Chase experienced higher pollination success.…”

Reproductive biology of Davilla kunthii A. St-Hil. (Dilleniaceae) in Central Amazonia

“…Th e fi rst case occurs when a more attractive plant draws visitors away from other plants, whose reproductive successive is consequently negatively aff ected (Waser 1983;Sih & Baltus 1987;Brown et al 2002). Th e inappropriate transfer of pollen occurs when heterospecifi c pollen is deposited on the stigma of one or more competitors, similarly decreasing seed set (Rathcke 1983;Brown & Mitchell 2001).…”