The most effective pollinator principle applies to new invasive pollinators

Abstract

G. L. Stebbins' most effective pollinator principle states that when pollinators are not limiting, plants are expected to specialize and adapt to the most abundant and effective pollinator species available. In this study, we quantify the effectiveness of bees, hummingbirds and hawkmoths in a Chilean population of (Phrymaceae), and examine whether flower traits are subject to pollinator-mediated selection by the most effective pollinator species during two consecutive years. Unlike most species in the pollinator community, the visitation rate of the recently arrived did not change substantially between years, which together with its high and stable pollen delivery to flower stigmas made this species the most important in the pollinator assemblage, followed by the solitary bee Flower traits were under significant selection in the direction expected for short-tongue bees, suggesting that is in the initial steps of adaptation to the highly effective exotic bumblebee Our results illustrate the applicability of Stebbins' principle for new invasive pollinators, and stress their importance in driving flower adaptation of native plant species, a critical issue in the face of biotic exchange and homogenization.

The case for the continued use of the genus name Mimulus for all monkeyflowers

“…The casual dismissal of the interests of the Mimulus scientific community by these authors is questionable for four reasons. First, the monkeyflower literature encompasses dozens of different Mimulus species across the broader clade (Vickery, 1978;Cooley & al., 2011;Grossenbacher & Whittall, 2011;Grossenbacher & al., 2014;Sobel, 2014;Chase & al., 2017;Kooyers & al., 2017;Peng & al., 2017;Li & al., 2018;Medel & al., 2018;Yuan, 2019). Second, this argument mischaracterizes the size of the research community that studies Mimulus.…”

Daily fluctuations in pollination effectiveness explain higher efficiency of native over exotic bees in Lepechinia floribunda (Lamiaceae)

“…A recent study demonstrated that the more effective recently arrived invasive Bombus terrestris to a Chilean population of Erythranthe lutea (Phrymaceae) modified selection patterns acting on floral traits (Medel et al, 2018). Our results indicate that the production of seeds by Pollen deposition effectiveness (Dtd).…”

First data about the preimaginal morphology of Austroscaeva occidentalis (Shannon, 1927) and re‐description of larvae and pupae of Dioprosopa clavata (Fabricius, 1794) (Diptera: Syrphidae)

“…2013; Medel et al . 2018) in these areas. Muñoz and Arroyo (2004) reported that the presence of vertebrate predators significantly reduces the number of visits of A. melanostoma on flowers of the Andean shrub Chuquiraga oppositifolia D. Don, and Gavini et al .…”