Rodent pollination in Protea nana
| dc.contributor.author | Biccard, A. | |
| dc.contributor.author | Midgley, J. J. | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2018-10-02T08:27:32Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2018-10-02T08:27:32Z | |
| dc.date.issued | 2009 | |
| dc.date.updated | 2016-01-14T09:09:14Z | |
| dc.description.abstract | Floral morphology, late winter flowering time and a distinct yeasty odour in Protea nana suggest that it is adapted for rodent pollination. To test this hypothesis, rodents were trapped in a stand of P. nana, examined for presence of pollen (on their noses and in their scats) and then observed in the laboratory for pollination behaviour. Inflorescences were placed in wire and shade-cloth exclosures and seed-set compared to controls in the field. Otomys irroratus, Aethomys namaquensis, Rhabdomys pumilio and Myomyscus (Praomys) verreauxi were captured and all tested positive for the presence of protea pollen. All, except O. irroratus, displayed legitimate pollination of P. nana. Myomyscus verreauxi was regarded as the most competent pollinator as it displayed superior climbing ability in comparison to the other rodent species. R. pumilio sometimes displayed highly destructive behaviour of P. nana inflorescences and is the likely explanation for the observed 20% reduction in average number of inflorescences per plant over a two month period. Seeds per inflorescence were lowest in shade-cloth covered inflorescences (total pollinator exclusion), but not significantly lower in wire exclosures which provided access for insects. A high percentage of sugar (29.4% by weight) in the nectar of P. nana is similar to known rodent pollinated species. We conclude that P. nana is at least partially rodent pollinated. | |
| dc.identifier | http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.sajb.2009.08.003 | |
| dc.identifier.apacitation | Biccard, A., & Midgley, J. J. (2009). Rodent pollination in Protea nana. <i>South African Journal of Botany</i>, http://hdl.handle.net/11427/28894 | en_ZA |
| dc.identifier.chicagocitation | Biccard, A., and J. J. Midgley "Rodent pollination in Protea nana." <i>South African Journal of Botany</i> (2009) http://hdl.handle.net/11427/28894 | en_ZA |
| dc.identifier.citation | Biccard, A., & Midgley, J. J. (2009). Rodent pollination in Protea nana. South African Journal of Botany, 75(4), 720-725. | |
| dc.identifier.ris | TY - AU - Biccard, A. AU - Midgley, J. J. AB - Floral morphology, late winter flowering time and a distinct yeasty odour in Protea nana suggest that it is adapted for rodent pollination. To test this hypothesis, rodents were trapped in a stand of P. nana, examined for presence of pollen (on their noses and in their scats) and then observed in the laboratory for pollination behaviour. Inflorescences were placed in wire and shade-cloth exclosures and seed-set compared to controls in the field. Otomys irroratus, Aethomys namaquensis, Rhabdomys pumilio and Myomyscus (Praomys) verreauxi were captured and all tested positive for the presence of protea pollen. All, except O. irroratus, displayed legitimate pollination of P. nana. Myomyscus verreauxi was regarded as the most competent pollinator as it displayed superior climbing ability in comparison to the other rodent species. R. pumilio sometimes displayed highly destructive behaviour of P. nana inflorescences and is the likely explanation for the observed 20% reduction in average number of inflorescences per plant over a two month period. Seeds per inflorescence were lowest in shade-cloth covered inflorescences (total pollinator exclusion), but not significantly lower in wire exclosures which provided access for insects. A high percentage of sugar (29.4% by weight) in the nectar of P. nana is similar to known rodent pollinated species. We conclude that P. nana is at least partially rodent pollinated. DA - 2009 DB - OpenUCT DP - University of Cape Town J1 - South African Journal of Botany LK - https://open.uct.ac.za PB - University of Cape Town PY - 2009 T1 - Rodent pollination in Protea nana TI - Rodent pollination in Protea nana UR - http://hdl.handle.net/11427/28894 ER - | en_ZA |
| dc.identifier.uri | http://hdl.handle.net/11427/28894 | |
| dc.identifier.vancouvercitation | Biccard A, Midgley J J. Rodent pollination in Protea nana. South African Journal of Botany. 2009; http://hdl.handle.net/11427/28894. | en_ZA |
| dc.language.iso | eng | |
| dc.publisher.department | Botany | |
| dc.publisher.faculty | Faculty of Science | |
| dc.publisher.institution | University of Cape Town | |
| dc.source | South African Journal of Botany | |
| dc.source.uri | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0254629909002737 | |
| dc.subject.other | Aethomys namaquensis | |
| dc.subject.other | Myomyscus verreauxi | |
| dc.subject.other | Protea nana | |
| dc.subject.other | Rhabdomys pumilio | |
| dc.subject.other | Rodent pollination | |
| dc.title | Rodent pollination in Protea nana | |
| dc.type | Journal Article | |
| uct.type.filetype | ||
| uct.type.filetype | Text | |
| uct.type.filetype | Image |