Pollination ecology of Mesembs

dc.contributor.advisorBond, William Jen_ZA
dc.contributor.advisorColville, Jonathan Fen_ZA
dc.contributor.authorScodanibbio, Luciaen_ZA
dc.date.accessioned2016-09-26T11:18:54Z
dc.date.available2016-09-26T11:18:54Z
dc.date.issued2002en_ZA
dc.description.abstractMesembryanthemaceae is one of the main plant families in the Succulent Karoo biome of South Africa. While its pollination ecology still remains largely unstudied, the system is thought to be overall generalised. This study sought to verify whether Mesemb species flowering during September and October in Vrolijkheit Nature Reserve have generalised or specialised pollination interactions. The determinants of insect choice to a particular plant species were investigated and possible mechanisms adopted by different plant species to prevent interspecific pollen transfer were explored. The system was found to have a generalisation level of 24.7%, indicating that one of four possible interactions actually took place. A relatively high degree of overlap in insect visitors was found between the three white-flowered species (Mesemhryanthemum longistylum, Phylloholus grossus and P. splendens). Colour was one of the main determinants of insect choice, whereby Drosanthemurn speciosum, the only red-flowered species in the study showed the highest degree of specialisation. Both scent and nectar production were relatively important in attracting flower visitors. Seasonality in flowering appeared to be a very important mechanism used to reduce overlap in insect visitors, especially among intrageneric species and those that had flowers of the same colour. Daily patterns in scent and nectar production also appeared to play a role in lowering pollinator-sharing. Given the general floral structure of most Mesemb flowers, these mechanisms are likely to be very important in contributing to species reproductive isolation and the low occurrence of hybrids recorded in natural conditions.en_ZA
dc.identifier.apacitationScodanibbio, L. (2002). <i>Pollination ecology of Mesembs</i>. (Thesis). University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Science ,Department of Biological Sciences. Retrieved from http://hdl.handle.net/11427/21944en_ZA
dc.identifier.chicagocitationScodanibbio, Lucia. <i>"Pollination ecology of Mesembs."</i> Thesis., University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Science ,Department of Biological Sciences, 2002. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/21944en_ZA
dc.identifier.citationScodanibbio, L. 2002. Pollination ecology of Mesembs. University of Cape Town.en_ZA
dc.identifier.ris TY - Thesis / Dissertation AU - Scodanibbio, Lucia AB - Mesembryanthemaceae is one of the main plant families in the Succulent Karoo biome of South Africa. While its pollination ecology still remains largely unstudied, the system is thought to be overall generalised. This study sought to verify whether Mesemb species flowering during September and October in Vrolijkheit Nature Reserve have generalised or specialised pollination interactions. The determinants of insect choice to a particular plant species were investigated and possible mechanisms adopted by different plant species to prevent interspecific pollen transfer were explored. The system was found to have a generalisation level of 24.7%, indicating that one of four possible interactions actually took place. A relatively high degree of overlap in insect visitors was found between the three white-flowered species (Mesemhryanthemum longistylum, Phylloholus grossus and P. splendens). Colour was one of the main determinants of insect choice, whereby Drosanthemurn speciosum, the only red-flowered species in the study showed the highest degree of specialisation. Both scent and nectar production were relatively important in attracting flower visitors. Seasonality in flowering appeared to be a very important mechanism used to reduce overlap in insect visitors, especially among intrageneric species and those that had flowers of the same colour. Daily patterns in scent and nectar production also appeared to play a role in lowering pollinator-sharing. Given the general floral structure of most Mesemb flowers, these mechanisms are likely to be very important in contributing to species reproductive isolation and the low occurrence of hybrids recorded in natural conditions. DA - 2002 DB - OpenUCT DP - University of Cape Town LK - https://open.uct.ac.za PB - University of Cape Town PY - 2002 T1 - Pollination ecology of Mesembs TI - Pollination ecology of Mesembs UR - http://hdl.handle.net/11427/21944 ER - en_ZA
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/11427/21944
dc.identifier.vancouvercitationScodanibbio L. Pollination ecology of Mesembs. [Thesis]. University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Science ,Department of Biological Sciences, 2002 [cited yyyy month dd]. Available from: http://hdl.handle.net/11427/21944en_ZA
dc.language.isoengen_ZA
dc.publisher.departmentDepartment of Biological Sciencesen_ZA
dc.publisher.facultyFaculty of Scienceen_ZA
dc.publisher.institutionUniversity of Cape Town
dc.subject.otherBotanyen_ZA
dc.titlePollination ecology of Mesembsen_ZA
dc.typeBachelor Thesis
dc.type.qualificationlevelHonours
dc.type.qualificationnameBSc (Honours)en_ZA
uct.type.filetypeText
uct.type.filetypeImage
uct.type.publicationResearchen_ZA
uct.type.resourceThesisen_ZA
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