Temporal variation in relative frequency of nectariferous and nectarless inflorescences and its effect on subsequent fecundity in an ephemeral plant, Corydalis ambigua （Fumariaceae）  

作　　者：Xing-Nan Zhao Ji-Min Zhao Ji-Xun Guo Yan-Wen Zhang 

机构地区：[1]Institute of Grassland Science, Northeast Normal University and Key Laboratory for Vegetation Ecology, Ministry of Education, Changchun130024, China [2]Department of Biology, Changchun Normal University, Changchun 130032, China [3]Department of Biology, Eastern Liaoning University, Dandong 180003, Liaoning, China

出　　处：《Journal of Systematics and Evolution》2017年第1期44-53,共10页植物分类学报（英文版）

基　　金：Acknowledgements We thank Professor David Inouye who assisted in manuscript preparation. We also thank Sheng-Jun Huang, Li-Hui Zhang, and Er-Na Xun for their assistance in the field. This work was supported by grants from the National Natural Science Foundation of China to Yan-Wen Zhang （31170354） and to Ji-Min Zhao （31170384）.

摘　　要：The occurrence of nectarlessness flowers in nectar-producing plants is a common and stable phenomenon in many species, but their occurrence is still not well understood. The aim of this study is to examine a question from both the plant and pollinator perspectives： why do nectar-producing species produce some nectarless flowers within a plant？ We investigate the distribution patterns of nectarless flowers in natural populations and their variation among the populations and years in a spring-flowering self-incompatible perennial herb plant, Corydalis ambigua Chem. ＆ Schlecht （Fumariaceae）, we observed the foraging behavior of bumblebees to nectariferous and nectarless inflorescences. We also examined the differences in reproductive success between inflorescence types and the effect of nectar production on flower production of the next flowering season. The results indicated that the frequencies of nectarless flowers varied among inflorescences, individuals, and populations and between years. Plants can revise or keep their inflorescence types or change nectar production status in the next growing season. Bumblebees visited both types with equal frequency but different foraging behavior, which resulted in lower seed production in nectarless inflorescences. However, nectarless inflorescences may save more energy and result in larger bulbs, which produce more flowers in the next flowering season. We found that although nectarless flowers resulted in lower seed set in nectarless inflorescence or individuals, they could affect bumblebees＇ foraging behavior and further promote the effective output of pollen. In addition, the resource savings could enhance plant reproductive success in the next flowering season.The occurrence of nectarlessness flowers in nectar-producing plants is a common and stable phenomenon in many species, but their occurrence is still not well understood. The aim of this study is to examine a question from both the plant and pollinator perspectives： why do nectar-producing species produce some nectarless flowers within a plant？ We investigate the distribution patterns of nectarless flowers in natural populations and their variation among the populations and years in a spring-flowering self-incompatible perennial herb plant, Corydalis ambigua Chem. ＆ Schlecht （Fumariaceae）, we observed the foraging behavior of bumblebees to nectariferous and nectarless inflorescences. We also examined the differences in reproductive success between inflorescence types and the effect of nectar production on flower production of the next flowering season. The results indicated that the frequencies of nectarless flowers varied among inflorescences, individuals, and populations and between years. Plants can revise or keep their inflorescence types or change nectar production status in the next growing season. Bumblebees visited both types with equal frequency but different foraging behavior, which resulted in lower seed production in nectarless inflorescences. However, nectarless inflorescences may save more energy and result in larger bulbs, which produce more flowers in the next flowering season. We found that although nectarless flowers resulted in lower seed set in nectarless inflorescence or individuals, they could affect bumblebees＇ foraging behavior and further promote the effective output of pollen. In addition, the resource savings could enhance plant reproductive success in the next flowering season.

关 键 词：BOMBUS BUMBLEBEE Corydalis ambigua cost of reproduction foraging behavior nectarless flower reproductive strategy 

分 类 号：S718.42[农业科学—林学] Q948.52[生物学—植物学]